Large deposits of 15 rare minerals found in Andhra Pradesh
Recently, Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute has discovered large reserves of 15 Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
- REEs are also called rare earth oxides. These are a group of 17 soft heavy metals that are white like silver. They are found together in the periodic table.
- This group includes yttrium and 15 lanthanide elements.
- The 15 lanthanide elements are: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.
- All the elements in REEs are metals. They have many similar properties. Because of this, they are often found together in geological deposits.
- REEs are widely used in cutting-edge technology, in defense technologies and in electronic equipment such as cell phones, computers and electric vehicles.
- These elements are widely used because of their luminescent and catalytic properties.
Source – Business Standard
