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The Conversation USA

The Conversation USA

What are rare earths, crucial elements in modern technology? 4 questions answered

  • Written by Stanley Mertzman, Professor of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College
A handful of europium.Alchemist-hp, CC BY-SA

Most Americans use rare earth elements every day – without knowing it, or knowing anything about what they do. That could change, as these unusual materials are becoming a focal point in the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.

Stanley Mertzman, a geologist whose specialty is X-ray...

Read more: What are rare earths, crucial elements in modern technology? 4 questions answered

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