Cosmic Mineral Could Solve Rare Earth Shortage Around the World
China’s monopoly over the global rare earth metal market is a consistent thorn in the side of the United States and other nations that share its interests. As the world transitions to renewable energy over the next few decades, experts worry that China’s dominance in the key rare earth metals supply chain will grant it unprecedented leverage over the U.S., its largest rival. Interestingly, a mineral that typically occurs in space may be the key to weaning the U.S. off of China and achieving some semblance of independence in the rare earth metal market. Cambridge University Department of Materials Science…
