Very cool. I didn't know this info before. Makes me wonder why there has been a shortage since they're manufactured from scratch rather than "dug up". Probably an artificial shortage.
Les Cargill
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May 6, 2013, 1:29:48 PM5/6/13
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No, the actual rare earth metals are dug up. the magnets are alloys.
The term "rare earth" is a little misleading, and I think of it
as something like a proper name.
> Probably an artificial shortage.
>
1) Tim Worstall may actually know. He's in that business and
has a blog.
2) This : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-elements.html kinda goes into that subject briefly. Rare earth metals aren't all that
rare, they're just poorly distributed. Production is a lot
about the energy costs to extract them.
--
Les Cargill
Flint
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May 8, 2013, 8:35:20 AM5/8/13
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My understanding is that China has the lion's share of actual rare
earth materials in the world. Is this correct?