The New Mining: “Rare Earths”
By Patricia Vara
A few days ago, on March 31, we were surprised by the news of a tragic accident in the Cerredo mine, located in Asturias, which has caused the death of five miners from Leon and four others seriously injured. Something that in these times seems anachronistic and reminds us of past times, when coal mining in Spain was one of the most important industries but that, due to the crisis of the sector and energy transition policies, meant the closure of most of the mines or the reconversion.
But we have to remember that the history of mining is closely linked to the evolution of mankind. From prehistoric times to the present day, mineral extraction has been key to the development of tools, technologies and societies.
Let us refresh our knowledge of history: in the “Metal Age” (approximately 5,000 B.C. to the 1st century A.D.) men began to extract and work metals, starting with the “Copper Age”, initially in its native state, for tools and ornaments. The “Bronze Age” followed, by mixing copper with tin, for its greater hardness and resistance, which led to the development of great civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, China). And the “Iron Age”, with the discovery of the smelting of this metal, more resistant and abundant, grew empires such as Assyria, Rome and Persia.
With the Industrial Revolution (18th century), steel gained prominence in its use in railroads, construction and heavy machinery. And in the 20th and 21st centuries, new metals and alloys such as aluminum, titanium and advanced materials such as graphene and rare earths appeared.
Rare earths, a concept that, in recent years, has gained crucial relevance in our society and in particular in geopolitical relations between nations.
And what are they? Well, they are a group of 17 chemical elements, essential in many modern technologies due to their unique characteristics, such as electrical conductors, magnetic and luminescent properties. They are at the bottom of the periodic table, which some of you may have studied in chemistry, and which includes the 15 lanthanides (from lanthanum to lutetium), plus scandium and yttrium.
And why this current prominence? Because they are essential for the technology industry, defense, renewable energy and the manufacture of advanced electronic products. For example, these materials are used to manufacture magnets for wind turbines, electric vehicle motors, cell phone displays, defense systems and advanced medical applications.
Despite their name, they are not particularly scarce on Earth, but their extraction and processing are complex and costly, as they are dispersed in the Earth’s crust and are not found in a pure state but mixed with other minerals. This means that, in order to obtain useful quantities, large volumes of rock must be processed, and their extraction and processing require advanced technologies, high costs and strict regulations, which makes them a strategic and complex resource to exploit.
Although there are reserves in various parts of the world (USA, Australia, Brazil, India), China dominates the production and refining of rare earths (more than 60%). This has generated global dependence and geopolitical challenges, making it difficult to diversify supply.
In Spain, recent research indicates the presence of significant deposits in various regions of the country and the European Commission, in its strategy to reduce dependence on China for the supply of rare earths, has approved seven mining projects in Spain in the field of critical raw materials, including: lithium mines in Galicia and Cáceres, a wolfram mine in Cáceres, the reopening of the Aguablanca mine in Badajoz to extract various minerals, and projects in Huelva related to metal recycling and a subway copper, zinc, lead and silver mine. However, their exploitation must be approached with caution, considering both the economic benefits and the environmental and social implications.
To mitigate the environmental impacts of rare earths, strategies such as improved recycling processes and research into alternative sources are being developed. Countries such as Japan have invested in the exploration of ocean floor deposits and the development of non-rare earth magnets to reduce their dependence on these materials.
Rare earths are fundamental to the modern economy and technological development, but their extraction and processing pose significant environmental challenges. Investment in more sustainable methods and recycling of these materials will be key to ensuring a more economically and ecologically balanced future.