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China And Rare Earth Mining
Rare earth elements are a crucial part of much of modern
technology. Everything from computers to
X-ray machines and aircraft engines needs one or more rare earth elements for
magnets, lenses, and other functions.
The world’s tech giants such as Apple, Huawei, and Tesla depend on
suppliers of rare earths.
Rare earth elements are not actually rare, but they are very expensive
to extract in ways that are not extremely harmful to the environment. China has been a major source of these
elements since its rare earth mining industry took off in the 1990s. The removal of rare earths from the earth’s
crust, using a mix of water and chemicals, has caused extensive water and soil
pollution.
Today, concrete leaching ponds and plastic-lined wastewater pools dot
the hills of Southeast China. Large
wastewater ponds sit uncovered and open to the elements in many places. Landslides or barrier failures can spill
contaminated contents into waterways or groundwater.
Local and federal officials in China have started to shut down illegal
and small-scale rare earth mining operations and have embarked on a cleanup of
polluted sites. The rare earth mining
cleanup operation is part of wider efforts across China to address severe
problems of water, air and soil pollution.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology estimated that
the cleanup bill for southern Jiangxi Province could amount to more than $5 billion. Many environmental experts and local
officials say that the cost of the cleanup should not be shouldered by the
Chinese government alone, but also by the rare earth industry and the global
companies and consumers that benefit from rare earth technology. As rare earth mining efforts start up
elsewhere around the world, it is important not to repeat the mistakes made in
China.
**********
Web Links
China Wrestles with the Toxic Aftermath of Rare Earth Mining
Photo, posted April 21, 2019, courtesy of John Beans via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
View all episodes
By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
Rare earth elements are a crucial part of much of modern
technology. Everything from computers to
X-ray machines and aircraft engines needs one or more rare earth elements for
magnets, lenses, and other functions.
The world’s tech giants such as Apple, Huawei, and Tesla depend on
suppliers of rare earths.
Rare earth elements are not actually rare, but they are very expensive
to extract in ways that are not extremely harmful to the environment. China has been a major source of these
elements since its rare earth mining industry took off in the 1990s. The removal of rare earths from the earth’s
crust, using a mix of water and chemicals, has caused extensive water and soil
pollution.
Today, concrete leaching ponds and plastic-lined wastewater pools dot
the hills of Southeast China. Large
wastewater ponds sit uncovered and open to the elements in many places. Landslides or barrier failures can spill
contaminated contents into waterways or groundwater.
Local and federal officials in China have started to shut down illegal
and small-scale rare earth mining operations and have embarked on a cleanup of
polluted sites. The rare earth mining
cleanup operation is part of wider efforts across China to address severe
problems of water, air and soil pollution.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology estimated that
the cleanup bill for southern Jiangxi Province could amount to more than $5 billion. Many environmental experts and local
officials say that the cost of the cleanup should not be shouldered by the
Chinese government alone, but also by the rare earth industry and the global
companies and consumers that benefit from rare earth technology. As rare earth mining efforts start up
elsewhere around the world, it is important not to repeat the mistakes made in
China.
**********
Web Links
China Wrestles with the Toxic Aftermath of Rare Earth Mining
Photo, posted April 21, 2019, courtesy of John Beans via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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