Rare-earth mineral

A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous magmas in pegmatites or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Minerals are solids composed of various inorganic elements,^[1] mixed through processes such as evaporation, pressure or other physical changes.^{[2] [3]} Rare earth minerals are rare because rare earth elements have unique geochemical properties that prevent them from easily forming minerals,^[4] and are therefore not normally found in deposits large or concentrated enough for mining.^[4] This is the reason they are called "rare" earths. ^{[4] [5]} These elements have a wide range of uses from every day items to military technologies.^[6] The minerals that do exist are often associated with alkaline magmas or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Mantle-derived carbonate melts are also carriers of rare earths. Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism contain a variety of rare-earth minerals.

The following list includes the more common hydrothermal minerals that often contain significant rare earth elements: