Geography
The Geopolitics of Rare Earth Element Supply Chains
Quick fact
Rare earth elements are not actually rare in the Earth's crust, but they are difficult to extract and purify. Over 60% of global rare earth production and more than 90% of processing for many heavy rare earths are controlled by one country: China.
Why this is interesting
You might not think about the magnets in your phone or the battery in your electric car, but a quiet war is being fought over the elements that make them work. What if a single country could shut down entire industries by restricting exports of these obscure metals?