FEBRUARY 2024 21 found was the element yttrium—by Swedish chemist Johan Gadolin. As of 2024, these 17 rare earth metals consist of: scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutecium. Depending on the make and model of your cellphone, there may be up to 16 of the 17 known rare earths in it. According to www.arnoldmagnetics.com, the automotive industry uses cerium for glass, mirror polishing powder, and UV-cut glass. Cerium, europium, and yttrium are used on LCD screens, and cerium and lanthanum are used as diesel fuel additives and in the manufacture of hybrid batteries. Lanthanum and either cerium or zirconium are used in the manufacture of catalytic converters, while component sensors use yttrium, and neodymium is used to make headlight glass. For the hybrid technologies’ electric motor and generator, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium are used, while neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium are utilized in the manufacture of electric motors. Though not a rare earth element, lithium is a main ingredient in the manufacture of EV batteries. While there is enough of it right now, with the pumping up of the entire automotive industry to go to greener power alternatives to reduce our GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions and EVs touted as the main way to go (for now), within the next 10 years, global demand for lithium batteries used in vehicles is expected to increase sixfold. If this level of demand is correct, according to EV supply chain market intelligence publisher Benchmark, global markets will need: 59 new lithium mines producing an average of 45,000 tonnes; 38 new cobalt mines producing 5,000 tonnes; 72 new nickel mines producing around 42,500 tonnes; 97 new natural flake graphite mines producing around 56,000 tonnes a year; and 54 new synthetic graphite plants producing an average of 57,000 tonnes each per year. While that sounds daunting, there is currently a surplus of lithium—but by 2030? Benchmark suggested that even with all of the existing mines and projects under construction around the world, the mining industry will only be able to produce about half of what’s needed. Part of the issue is that it takes about 16.5 years for a new lithium mine operation to develop fully. Unless they all ramp up their speed of development— starting right now—we will have a shortage of lithium. Or cobalt. Or graphite. And those are just some of the ingredients needed for EV batteries, for which we could face shortages. That means that the push to electrify the automotive and trucking industries will shift into neutral and possibly cause the technology to become something less than ideal. Despite their name, rare earths are somewhat common but are usually not found in large concentrations. Even when they are found in large amounts, they are typically combined with other ores, such as radioactive uranium and thorium. We’re sure the average person has some knowledge about the uses of uranium. But thorium is less familiar. It is used in manufacturing ceramics, welding rods, camera and telescope lenses, fire bricks, heat-resistant paint, metals used in the aerospace industry, and in nuclear reactions, with research now being undertaken to use it as a fuel to create nuclear energy. And wouldn’t you know it? Rare earths are notoriously difficult to separate from other elements Matches fertilizer type to crop needs. RIGHT SOURCE Keeps nutrients where crops can use them. RIGHT PLACE Matches amount of fertilizer to crop needs. RIGHT RATE Makes nutrients available when crops need them. RIGHT TIME P.O. Box 510 | 804 Highway 15 West | Northwood, ND 58267 (701) 587-6010 | Fax (701) 587-6013 email: northwoodlab@agvise.com | website: www.agvise.com P.O. Box 187 | 902 13th Street North | Benson, MN 56215 (320) 843-4109 | Fax (320) 843-2074 email: bensonlab@agvise.com | website: www.agvise.com Canada Delivery: 380 Kimberly Rd. | Winkler, MB R6W 0H7
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