Can a Radioactive Ore Break China’s Grip on Rare Earths?

The global race to secure rare-earth elements is intensifying as nations seek to reduce dependence on China, which currently controls approximately 90 percent of the market. These materials are essential for high-tech manufacturing, including semiconductors, electric vehicle motors, and defense systems. Industry experts are increasingly looking toward monazite, a mineral ore rich in neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium, as a viable alternative supply source. While monazite processing is complicated by the presence of radioactive thorium and uranium, companies like Energy Fuels are investing heavily in specialized extraction facilities in the United States. By developing domestic processing capabilities, these firms aim to bypass the Chinese-dominated supply chain. Although the path to independence is fraught with regulatory and environmental challenges, the strategic push to utilize monazite represents a significant effort to stabilize the supply of critical minerals necessary for the future of global technology and green energy.