The future found in the ground

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is an expert in the field of rare earth elements

Terbium is a heavy rare earth metal that is used in LEDs, TVs and fluorescent lamps. — photo courtesy Avalon Rare Metals

Rare earth elements and metals are the way of the future. Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX:AVL) is a Canadian company actively exploring and drilling in the Northwest Territories at its Nechalacho Rare Earth Element Project near Thor Lake. Ian London, who works with Avalon in market development and energy issues, spoke to Mining & Exploration about rare earth elements and rare earth metals. He explained why they are valuable and why they are the key to advancements in green energy and the health-care system.

London said that all 17 rare earth elements are, in fact, not rare, but everywhere. However, they are rare in terms of where one can find the appropriate concentration and amount to make them economically retrievable.

It just gets better

Through his job, London is privy to a world of new science. Here are some elements and metals that will help the world achieve more advanced health care and energy technologies.

• Neodymium and dysprosium: Two rare earth elements that, when combined with iron and boron, become a permanent magnet. These can be found in practically every electronic device and have led to the miniaturization of numerous applications.
• Lithium: A rare metal that has long been used in anti-anxiety medications. The newer use is in lithium batteries—this metal has the highest energy density compared to all other metals. London said one of the fastest growing markets revolves around battery-operated devices, including power drills, mobile phones, laptops and iPods.
• Zirconium: A rare metal that is used in nuclear power reactors. It is also used to make jewellery. A future use of zirconium is in the filtering system for kidney dialysis.
• Gallium and indium: Two rare earth metals that, when combined with copper and selenium, become the most energy-efficient solar panel to date, capable of a 20 to 25 per cent electrical conversion rate.
• Terbium: A heavy rare earth metal that can be found in LEDs, televisions, fluorescent lamps and permanent magnets. Terbium and dysprosium are the two heavy earth metals in the most demand.

OK, so why should I care?

To highlight the underlying theme of rare metals and earth elements leading future technologies, London shared an example that he used in a group presentation.

“(I asked the question, ‘Which) one of these things is not like the others?’ ” said London. “ ‘A wind turbine, a solar panel, a hybrid vehicle, an iPod, and rare metals. Which one doesn’t fit?’ They said, ‘Rare metals.’ I said that they were right, except here is the thing—none of the other things work if you don’t have rare metals.”