Europe’s largest known deposit of REE found in Sweden

Sweden's LKAB had identified more than 1 million tonnes of rare earth oxides in the Kiruna area in the far north of the country, the largest known such deposit in Europe.

What are Rare Earth Elements (REE)?

• The rare earth elements (REE) are a set of seventeen metallic elements. 
• These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium.
• Rare earth elements are an essential part of many high-tech devices.

Need of Rare Earth Metal

• Rare earth minerals are essential to many high-tech manufacturing processes and are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, portable electronics, microphones and speakers.

Significance of the development

• Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union and is a country seen as a key part of the EU's strategy for self-sufficiency in key minerals.
• The European Commission considers rare earths to be among the most critical resources for the region. 
• The vast majority of rare earths are currently mined in China.