Extinct volcanos are a treasure trove of elements
Rare earth elements may be a little less rare
Some extinct volcanoes may be harboring a cache of "rare earth elements," new research has determined. These elements are important for running certain green technologies. The discovery therefore provides a potentially vast and more easily accessible source of materials that will be needed to match a rapidly growing demand.
Metallic volcanos
Volcanoes that have long been dormant may be filled with rare earth elements (REE), according to a study published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters. The source of REE — which are a set of 17 heavy metals — is likely to be iron-rich magma from volcanic eruptions that happened millions of years ago. "We have never seen an iron-rich magma erupt from an active volcano, but we know some extinct volcanoes, which are millions of years old, had this enigmatic type of eruption," Michael Anenburg, one of the study's authors, said in a statement.
Researchers were inspired by discovering a large deposit of rare earth elements in a "mining town that sits upon a huge mass of iron-ore, formed around 1,600 million years ago following intense volcanic activity," said CNN. Was it a "geological accident," or "is there something inherent about those iron-rich volcanoes that makes them rich in rare earth elements?" Anenburg said to the outlet. To answer this question, the scientists simulated iron-rich volcanic activity in the lab and concluded that rare earth elements were indeed present in the magma.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We found that some rare magma types are surprisingly efficient at concentrating rare earth elements," Anenburg said at The Conversation. "Iron-rich magmas absorb the rare earths so efficiently, their rare earth contents are almost 200 times greater than the regular magmas around them." This opens the door for new sources of these elements, especially since iron-rich magma is easily identifiable.
Sourcing solutions
Rare earth elements like lanthanum, neodymium and terbium are used in powering several clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles and wind turbines. Despite what their name suggests, these elements are not necessarily rare, but they can be difficult to extract. "Just finding rare earths isn't enough," said Anenburg. "You need to have enough of them, you need to have them in the correct minerals, and ideally in a place where mining is feasible." The middle of the desert is good, but a "sensitive rainforest" is less ideal. Mining rare earth elements can also have significant environmental consequences, due to toxic chemicals used in the process polluting the surrounding region. Human rights abuses in the supply chain have also been identified, from the unregulated mines in Myanmar to the use of child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition, "our demand for rare earths alone will increase fivefold by 2030," especially as renewable energy technologies become more prevalent, said the European Commission. China currently has the largest deposit of rare earth elements on Earth and remains the main global provider. However, that could change. Extinct volcanoes are already mined for their iron ore, diamond and copper, but the process may be modified to mine for REE as well.
"Findings suggest that these iron-rich extinct volcanoes across the globe, such as El Laco in Chile, could be studied for the presence of rare earth elements," Anenburg said. This would allow for more global sourcing, and would not require the creation of new mines.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
The best homes of the year
Feature Featuring a grand turret entrance in New York and built-in glass elevator in Arizona
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nordstrom family, investor to take retail chain private
Speed Read The business will be acquired by members of the family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real estate company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Florida has a sinking condo problem
UNDER THE RADAR Scientists are (cautiously) ringing the alarms over dozens of the Sunshine State's high-end high-rises
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Octopuses could be the next big species after humans
UNDER THE RADAR What has eight arms, a beaked mouth, and is poised to take over the planet when we're all gone?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Scientists finally know when humans and Neanderthals mixed DNA
Under the radar The two began interbreeding about 47,000 years ago, according to researchers
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Eclipses 'on demand' mark a new era in solar physics
Under the radar The European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission gives scientists the ability to study one of the solar system's most compelling phenomena
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abandoned mines pose hidden safety and environmental risks
Under the Radar People can be swallowed by sinkholes caused by these mines, and there are other risks too
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Earth's magnetic North Pole is shifting toward Russia
Under the radar The pole is on the move
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Indian space mission's moment in the Sun
Under the Radar Emerging space power's first solar mission could help keep Earth safe from Sun's 'fireballs'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mars may have been habitable more recently than thought
Under the Radar A lot can happen in 200 million years
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published