Prices - Not Just a Question of Metal Content in the Earths Crust

Prices - Not Just a Question of Metal Content in the Earth s Crust 

In Table 17.21 the rare earth metals are arranged in order of their mean content in the earth s crust. 

For yttrium, on the other hand - fourth among rare earths and almost as rare as scandium - large resources are available as monazite, xenotime and ion-adsorption ore. A quantity of 2400 tonnes of yttrium oxide was produced in 2000, of which 2300 tonnes was mined in China. Of course, this concentrated production influences the price. In 5-kg quantities the price for 99.9% yttrium metal with less than 0.15% oxygen is US 100-150 per kilogram. 

New large-scale appHcations reduce the price. Since neodymium became essential for magnets the quantities produced have increased. The Nd metal price is US 10/kg in bulk, and US 125/kg in quantities of 1 kg. 

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