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Discover the 17 minerals that drive technology, fuel industries, and spark competition between powers
As rare Lands are a group of 17 chemical elements who became indispensable for modern life.
Although the name suggests scarcity, they are spread across several countries, but in concentrations so small that make extraction complex and costly.
These elements, such as neodymium, lanthanum, cerium and yttrium, drive the technology industry, the energy transition and the defense sector.
According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), 70% of global production comes from China, which also dominates the stages of refining and chemical separation, maintaining control over the world market.
What are they and what are they for?
These metals have unique magnetic, luminescent and electrochemical properties, being used in the manufacture of permanent magnets, wind turbines, electric vehicles, satellites, chips, lasers and smartphones.
Even in small quantities, its technological value is inestimable. magnets made with neodymium and praseodymium are powerful and durable, allowed smaller and lighter equipment, which favors energy efficiency.
This makes rare earths essential for reduce the weight of electric motors e increase the autonomy of battery-powered vehicles, medical devices, radars and optical systems depend on them.
O Pentagon, in 2023 reports, classified these minerals as critical to the national security of the United States, which explains the growing international interest.
Why are they called rare?
Despite the name, rare earths are not scarcebut difficult to extract. They are usually mixed with other minerals, requiring complex and expensive chemical processes for separation and purification.
According to USGS, the largest known reserves are in China, Brazil, Australia and India. Bayan Obo mine, in northern China, concentrates huge volumes of elements used in permanent magnets, exceeding the reserves of the Australia (Mount Weld) and the Greenland (Kvanefjeld).
Chinese dominance over the refining and export of these elements causes USA and Europe depend heavily on the Asian country, which increases global geopolitical tension.
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Brazil's role
Brazil has the second largest reserve of rare earths in the worldaccording to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
The country holds about 25% of known deposits, located mainly in Goiás, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Amazonas and Maranhão. Minaçu (GO) is one of the few regions outside Asia with commercial-scale production, through deposits in ionic clay.
Furthermore, studies of the University of São Paulo (USP) point high mineral potential in the Rio Grande Rise, a submerged formation 1.200 km off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul, rich in critical minerals.
The Brazilian government, in partnership with the United Nations (UN), seeks recognition of this area as natural extension of the territory, expanding its sovereignty over strategic resources.
The global interest
The United States, amid trade impasses since 2024, is negotiating access to strategic reserves with Brazil and other countries..
In July of 2025, the Brazilian Mining Institute (Ibram) confirmed meetings with representatives of US Embassy, interested in agreements for controlled supply of these minerals.
Already European Union, in 2023, approved the Critical Raw Materials Act, with goals for reduce Chinese dependence by 65% by 2030. However, the China continues to lead the value chain, from refining to export.
This concentration of power raises alarms about the future of global energy and technological transition.
Why they move the world
in the age of clean energy and digitalization, rare earths are the invisible heart of modern technology.
They have supported since wind turbines to smartphones and electric vehicles, connecting industries and driving economies.
Therefore, controlling your production is controlling the future.
So while the Brazil consolidates its reserves and world seeks new sources, one question remains:
Who will dominate the minerals that move tomorrow?
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