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U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1189

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The Future of Rare Earth Elements—
Will These High-Tech Industry Elements Continue in Short Supply?

By Keith R. Long

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (6.2 MB)Summary

•    REE will continue to find increasing use due to their unique properties.
•    There is a realistic possibility around 2015–2016 of sufficient REE capacity to meet demand under conditions of healthy price competition.
•    REE supplies will be tight and prices high for a few years.
•    There is significant downside risk that newly developed mines will not perform as planned.

Also of Interest

The Principal Rare Earth Elements Deposits of the United States—A Summary of Domestic Deposits and a Global Perspective, by Keith R. Long, Bradley S. Van Gosen, Nora K. Foley, and Daniel Cordier (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5220; https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5220/).

View a video presentation of this report that the author made on May 26, 2011 at the USGS Evening Public Lecture Series in Menlo Park, Calif. http://online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar/2011.html).

  • This report is available only on the Web.

For additional information:
Contact Information, Western Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, Tucson Office
U.S. Geological Survey, U of A DeConcini Building
520 North Park Avenue, Room 355
Tucson, AZ 85719
http://minerals.usgs.gov/west/

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Suggested citation:

Long, K.R., 2011, The future of rare earth elements—will these high-tech industry elements continue in short supply?: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1189, 41 p.



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