Predicting the U.S. Supply of Rare Earth Elements Considering Current World Reserves Using Google Maps and Fusion Tables
Open Access
- Author:
- Iannuzzi, Morgan Ann
- Area of Honors:
- Environmental Systems Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Antonio Nieto, Thesis Supervisor
Antonio Nieto, Thesis Supervisor
Mark Stephen Klima, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- mining rare earth elements
future supply
Google Fusion Tables
geographic visualization - Abstract:
- Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial to green technology such as hybrid-electric vehicles, wind turbines, and fluorescent light bulbs. As of 2011, China dominates the world’s production of REEs and is reducing export quotas. An economic analysis of REEs’ supply and demand trends was performed; the conventional supply-demand-price relationship can be applied to REEs if global economic growth is considered. To predict the locations of future rare earths’ mines and create future supply scenarios, a geographic visualization tool was built with Google Fusion Tables. Five case scenarios with varying levels of demand were created by filtering several variables including: (1) international political atmosphere; (2) greenhouse gas regulations; (3) environmental mining regulations; and (4) applicability ratio of REEs. The future supply scenarios, deposits with heavy REEs and deposits with “critical” REEs (high supply risk and high importance to green technology) led to conclusions and suggestions to secure the REEs’ supply. The most realistic scenario with Japan’s current demand levels shows how the United States possesses REEs’ resources and the development of these resources needs to be expedited. The United States does not have significant resources with heavy REEs. While dysprosium is the most critical element, there are fewer potential locations to mine for europium in the United States. Further exploration is required to gain additional information about the inferred rare earths’ resources. Also, further research is required to find alternative materials to replace REEs and decrease the REEs’ applicability ratio, since the rare earths ore will be eventually depleted. While domestic mines are developing, alternative materials are being researched, and recycling programs are advancing, the United States should strengthen trade relationships with Australia and Canada as these countries have developing REEs’ mines.