来源 | 科普中国、 上海市科学技术协会、彭博新闻 等 预计阅读时间：8分钟 "稀土"对于很多人来说，既熟悉，又陌生。熟悉是因为在 国际新闻中，"稀土"这个词频繁出现，成为大国博弈的焦点； 陌 生是因为不知道稀土到底是什么？ 它 有何魔力？为何能让世界各国如此重视？ 本文将带大家简单解答以上问题。 01 什么是稀土？ 稀土是地球上最重要的原材料之一，深深植根于支撑现代生活的技术中。然而， 稀土指的并不是某一种物质，而是17种金属元素 的统称，它包括镧（La）、铈（Ce）、镨(Pr)、钕(Nd)、钷(Pm)、钐(Sm)、铕(Eu)、钆(Gd)、铽(Tb)、镝(Dy)、钬(Ho)、铒 (Er)、铥(Tm)、镱(Yb)、镥(Lu)，以及与镧系的15个元素密切相关的2个元素钪（Sc）和钇（Y），是一种不可再生资源。 1794年，芬兰化学家加多林从一块形似沥青的重质矿石中分离出第一种稀土"元素"。由于18世纪时技术有限，发现的稀土矿物较少，当 时只能用化学法制得少量不溶于水的氧化物，历史上习惯地把这种氧化物称为"土"，因而得名稀土。 因此，稀土尽管名字中有个"土"，但是跟我们印象中的土壤并没有什么关系。 稀土有哪些用途 ...

Group 1 - The Ministry of Commerce of China announced export controls on certain overseas rare earth-related items containing Chinese components, effective immediately for some provisions and starting December 1 for others [1][8]. - Export applications for military purposes will generally not be permitted, and applications for items intended for the development and production of advanced semiconductor technologies will be subject to case-by-case approval [1][4][6]. - The new regulations require exporters to obtain dual-use item export licenses for specific items that contain Chinese components or utilize Chinese technology in their production [3][7]. Group 2 - Rare earth elements are critical in various high-tech and defense applications, with unique properties that make them indispensable in industries such as renewable energy and military technology [11][13][14]. - China holds approximately 40% of the world's rare earth reserves, with a production capacity that accounts for nearly 70% of global output in 2023, and dominates the refining and separation processes [15][16]. - The global rare earth market is projected to exceed $50 billion by 2025, driven by increasing demand in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy [18][19]. Group 3 - The U.S. and EU are seeking to diversify their rare earth supply chains due to heavy reliance on China, implementing measures to boost domestic production and recycling efforts [19][20]. - China's strategic control over rare earth resources is reinforced through export quotas and tariffs, positioning the country as a key player in the global supply chain [20][22]. - The future of the rare earth industry will depend on technological innovation and international collaboration, with China aiming to enhance its competitive edge in the global market [20][22].

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of the new mineral "Huanghoite-(Nd)" (钕黄河矿) at the Baiyun Obo deposit represents a significant breakthrough in the study of rare earth element distribution and will aid in the development of strategic resources [1][2] Group 1 - The new mineral "Huanghoite-(Nd)" has been officially approved by the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA-CNMNC), marking it as the 25th new mineral found in the Baiyun Obo deposit [1][2] - The Baiyun Obo deposit is recognized as the world's largest rare earth deposit, with over 210 minerals identified, and the proportion of new minerals is increasing annually [1] - The discovery of "Huanghoite-(Nd)" highlights the complexity and resource diversity of the Baiyun Obo deposit, which is crucial for understanding the distribution of rare earth elements [1][2] Group 2 - The research team established a mineral zoning characteristic and genesis model for the Baiyun Obo deposit, revealing the selective enrichment mechanisms of rare earth elements and iron during the differentiation and evolution of carbonatite magma [2] - The discovery of "Huanghoite-(Nd)" and other new rare earth minerals such as fluorocarbon neodymium and neodymium monazite is a result of theoretical guidance from the established mineralization model [2] - The findings provide new pathways for the independent development and utilization of neodymium, which is a key component in high-performance permanent magnetic materials used in electric vehicles, wind power generation, and electronic information sectors [2]