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Experts from The National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC) in Rotherham have helped list some of Earth's rarest metallic elements in a new report published by the British Geological Survey (BGS).

Incorporating information about the comparative rarity of each metal, the distribution of its deposits, and the political stability of the country in which it is found, the list ranks these highly desired elements on a relative scale.

One important factor identified is the monopoly that individual countries have on the supply of particular metals. China, for example, produces the vast majority of all rare earth elements (REEs), and is responsible for the extraction of over 50% of the metals listed in the BGS report.

Andrew Bloodworth, Head of Minerals and Waste at the BGS explains “we need to diversify supplies of metal, especially those critical in delivering the green economy and digital technologies, by finding new resources from the Earth, by recycling more and doing more with less.”

The report also highlights how the emergence of new technologies (low carbon & renewable, and digital) have increased the importance of a range of metals that were not previously used by industry.

In the move towards a more low-carbon economy, digital and renewable energy technologies rely heavily on metals which, just 10 years ago, would have been of little interest to industry. For example mobile phones utilise lithium batteries, indium screens, and other REEs in the phone circuitry.

Since the mobile phone came into existence over 9 billion have been made with over 50 million new phones produced a year, each containing an average of 24mg of gold, along with many other metal components. Although recycling these materials has great potential, there are serious concerns about the economic and environmental costs of doing this.

Alan McLelland, Director of the National Metals Technology Centre, NAMTEC, says “care is needed to look at the form within which these metals are embedded in products and both the energy and environmental impact of their recovery. A holistic view as to the potential recovery of critical metals from product is required and needs to be taken at the outset of their application in order to maximise the potential.”

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