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kodos_der_henker t1_iuju2k8 wrote

Reply to comment by KmartQuality in British and Austrian scientists have developed substances that have the opportunity to replace rare earths. In the future, the "artificial cosmic magnets" produced in the laboratory are expected to be used in wind power generation and electric vehicles. by future168life

>Also, why does this stuff to only get mined in China?

Because China is the place were rich ores in high numbers are found, while other place were more important before China started digging, they just cannot get the amount done (like South Africa or California), and now China supplies 80-90% of the worlds demand

The ore in Mongolia contain 3-5% RE, a source in Germany contains 0.5% RE

Greenland might be a future RE export with the ice melting the sources are easier to mine

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KmartQuality t1_iuk0hhe wrote

I get that.

But why does china get so much more of it?

So many valuable, difficult to extract things are mined in many places. Have they just not looked everywhere yet because the demand is so new?

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Dr_SnM t1_iuk6r2y wrote

Geology.

Same reason the middle east has lots of oil and Australia has lots of Uranium.

Blind luck / winning the geological lottery

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El_Minadero t1_iuk1uya wrote

There’s something relatively unique about the deposits in china that makes them very economical to mine.

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