In 2010-2011 China mined 95-97% of the rare earths consumed in the world, by 2012 it fell to about 85% with Molycorp Mount Pass' mine coming into production.  China's rare earth cartel posed a big threat to the USA's energy and military security, but with Molycorp's and Lynas' (Australia) production of rare earths coming on stream in 2012 and 2013, respectively, this situation has been ameliorated to some extent.  However, these two non-Chinese mines produce only the light rare earths, and China still controls ~95% of the production of the heavy rare earths, which is a problem for the non-Chinese countries.  This shortage will not be relieved until 2014-2015 when non-Chinese mines containing appreciable heavy rare earth elements become operational.The CMI consists of the Ames Laboratory (lead) and three other USDOE Laboratories, seven universities, and seven industrial firms.  $120 million was awarded to the CMI, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, to develop solutions to domestic shortages of rare earth metals and other materials critical for the U.S.'s energy security.  The initial efforts are centered on the rare earths Y, Nd, Er, Tb and Dy, and also Li and Te because they are the most energy critical materials required for the U.S.A.'s energy security.  The CMI consists of four Focus Areas: diversifying supply; developing substitutes; improving reuse and recycling; and crosscutting research.  The CMI will employ scientists and engineers from many disciplines to work together to overcome scientific and technological barriers of the development of materials for improving current and advanced energy efficient products and devices (e.g. magnets, electric motors, and generators, wind turbines, electric vehicles, optical displays, lighting, phosphors, catalysts, etc.), which can be accomplished much more quickly than they would if the research was carried out individually.  A more detailed description of the CMI will be presented.

Rare earth crisis and the Critical Materials Institute's (CMI's) answer

247th National Meeting (2014)

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