Current Events: LREE found in Afghanistan

          According to American geologists, there could be around 1 million metric tons of LREE in the Khanneshin carbonatite found in Afghanistan. LREE is the acronym for "light rare earth elements."  Elements such as cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, are all very rare, and mining for and selling these minerals could help Afghanistan's economy.  Also, there is an estimate that 1.5 million metric tonnes of REE (rare earth element) may also be found in southern Afghanistan.  Contrary to the name, rare earth elements aren't actually that rare.  Some of them are quite abundant in the Earth's crust.  However, it is difficult to find any deposits of REE large enough to extract from the earth without spending too much money.  REE are becoming increasingly important materials when making things such as batteries and high-strength magnets.  REE are also essential ingredients for us to make "green" alternative energy sources.  We need REE to create electric cars, wind power, and solar cells.  These huge deposits of LREE and REE could give Afghanistan an economically bright future.

For more information, go to: Elements in Afghanistan