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The heart of an ancient volcano in Norway host Europe ’s largest deposit of rarified earth elements , according to the mining company Rare Earths Norway .
On June 6 , the company released areporton the deposit , which found that there is an estimated 8.8 megatons of rare earth oxides uncommitted in the outcrop . About 1.5 megaton of that is expected to be rare earth magnet , which are used in flatus turbines and electric vehicles .
580 million years ago, the Fen Carbonatite Complex complex was the pipe of an active volcano.
" [ T]he resource estimate underscores the potential difference of the deposit to be a truly transformative plus that can support a unassailable rarified earth economic value chemical chain for Europe , " Rare Earths Norway CEO Alf Reistad said in astatement .
The deposit , known as the Fen Carbonatite Complex , sits SW of Oslo near Lake Norsjø . Some 580 million years ago , the complex was the tobacco pipe of an active volcano . Now long dead , the upper part of the vent has eroded away , exposing this magma - filled piping , which is about 1.2 mile ( 2 km ) in diameter , to the control surface .
The magma solidify into carbonatite , which is rock’n’roll chock - full of minerals that bear certain manakin of carbonate molecules . harmonise to Rare Earths Norway , this once - molten magma now holds economically important rare earth elements such as neodymium — a metallic element used to make attracter — and praseodymium , also used in attractor as well as in other applications like aircraft engines .
Core samples taken from the Fen Carbonatite Complex in Norway.
The mining company reckon focuses on the upper portion of the ancient vent ’s sand , down to 1,535 feet ( 468 meters ) below sea level . According to the company statement , there are potential depositary down to about 3,300 feet ( 1,000 m ) below sea level .
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The company plans to continue exploratory drilling and will also work up a pilot burner plant life near the rock outcrop for process the ore into pure rare earth elements . allot to a 2023 study fromThe Oxford Institute for Energy Studies , about 70 % of the world ’s supply of rare dry land elements are mine inChina , and 90 % of all uncommon ground elements are processed there .
However , these 17 elements , which are crucial for technologies such as touch screen and electric battery , are actually distribute wide . Countries around the globe are aiming to insure their own domestic supply chains for these mineral . In the U.S. , for lesson , researcher arelooking in ember mine , where minelaying activity is already come about , to see if rare earthly concern metallic element might become the next product of these mine .
