The Global Battle for Rare Earth Metals

Rare earth metals are a set of 17 chemically similar elements which are integral to modern technologies. From neodymium, used in powerful magnets that can withstand extreme temperatures, to beryllium, which is used to manufacture lightweight materials for fighter jets, these elements have a variety of crucial technological uses. While rare earth metals are not particularly rare, they are seldom found in pure form and are often mixed with other minerals, making them costly to mine. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Kayla Zhu, visualizes rare…