| Rare Earth and the Chronos Group | | | | Chronos is well placed to benefit from the global |
| The Chronos Consulting mining and resource practice | | | | interest in rare earths. Until 1948, most of the world's |
| is active worldwide in a variety of sectors. However, | | | | rare earths were sourced from placers and deposits in |
| one particular area of interest to us concerns the | | | | India and Brazil - see and Through the 1950s, South |
| exploitation and use of rare earths. Rare earth | | | | Africa took the status as the world's rare earth |
| elements or rare earth metals are a collection of | | | | source, after large rare earth bearing veins were |
| seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, | | | | discovered in Monazite. Please see for our African |
| namely scandium, yttrium and the fifteen lanthanoids. | | | | ventures. Today, those Indian and South African |
| Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earths since | | | | deposits still produce some rare earth concentrates, |
| they tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the | | | | but they are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese |
| lanthanoids and exhibit similar chemical properties. | | | | production. China now produces over 95% of the |
| History | | | | world's rare earth supply. Chronos China is able to |
| The term "rare earth" arises from the minerals from | | | | assist in this area of expertise - please see for |
| which they were first isolated, which were uncommon | | | | further detail. |
| oxide-type minerals (earths) found in Gadolinite | | | | The use of rare earth elements in modern technology |
| extracted from one mine in the village of Ytterby, | | | | has increased dramatically over the past years. |
| Sweden. However, with the exception of the | | | | Unfortunately, this new demand has strained supply, |
| highly-unstable promethium, rare earth elements are | | | | and there is growing concern that the world may soon |
| found in relatively high concentrations in the earth's | | | | face a shortage of the materials. In several years, |
| crust, with cerium being the 25th most abundant | | | | worldwide demand for rare earth elements is |
| element in the earth's crust at 68 parts per million. Rare | | | | expected to exceed supply by 40,000 tonnes annually |
| earth elements became known to the world with the | | | | unless major new sources are developed and |
| discovery of the black mineral ytterbite (also known as | | | | Chronos research is involved in the search for |
| gadolinite) by Lieutenant Carl Axel Arrhenius in the | | | | alternative sources. |
| year 1787, in a quarry in the village of Ytterby, Sweden. | | | | All of the world's heavy rare earths (such as |
| Many of the rare earths are named for the scientists | | | | dysprosium) are sourced from Chinese rare earth |
| who discovered or elucidated the elemental properties, | | | | sources such as the Bayan Obo deposit. Illegal rare |
| or for their geographical discovery, or for Latin or | | | | earth mines are common in rural China and are often |
| Greek references, or for mythical references. | | | | known to release toxic wastes into the general water |
| Chronos and Rare Earth | | | | supply. In the USA a rare earth element mine in |
| At Chronos Consulting we understand that rare earth | | | | California is set to reopen by 2012. A site at Thor Lake |
| elements are incorporated into many modern | | | | in Canada is also under development. Locations in |
| technological devices, including superconductors, | | | | Vietnam have also been considered. Great Western |
| samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron high-flux | | | | Minerals Group, Rare Element Resources, Avalon |
| rare-earth magnets, electronic polishers, refining | | | | Rare Metals and Neo Material Technologies are |
| catalysts and hybrid car components (primarily | | | | among the Canadian companies exploring for |
| batteries and magnets). Rare earth ions are used by | | | | resources outside China. Chronos believes it is |
| many of our clients as the active ions in luminescent | | | | essential to explore for, research and develop new |
| materials used in optoelectronics applications and in | | | | sources of the rare earths and recruit in this area. We |
| optical-fiber communication systems. Yttrium iron | | | | set up the Canadian Resources Group to help in this |
| garnet (YIG) spheres have been useful as tunable | | | | area. |
| microwave resonators. Rare earth oxides are mixed | | | | Chinese export quotas have also resulted in a |
| with tungsten to improve its high temperature | | | | dramatic shift in the world's rare earth knowledge |
| properties for welding, replacing thorium, which was | | | | base. For example, the division of General Motors |
| mildly hazardous to work with. | | | | which deals with miniaturized magnet research shut |
| Rare earths are constantly being used in the nuclear | | | | down its US office and moved all of its staff to China.. |
| power and nuclear weapons industries for both | | | | Also green technology depends on rare earths, |
| practical and experimental utilization. Chronos | | | | elements with magnetic properties and high |
| Consulting has been intimately involved in major nuclear | | | | conductivity, which are the key to new green |
| projects in the UK, USA, Ukraine, China and France. | | | | technologies such as wind turbines and hybrid cars. |
| Some rare earth metals have found more down to | | | | Demand for rare-earth metals is likely to increase |
| earth applications in metallurgy, ceramics, glass making, | | | | between 10 percent and 20 percent each year, |
| dyes, lasers, televisions and other electrical | | | | analysts say, thanks to growing demand for elements |
| components. | | | | like neodymium, which is used in making hybrid electric |
| Location | | | | vehicles and generators for wind turbines. |