Mexico to Invest in Rare Earth Metal Exploration

Mexico’s Ministry of Economy will begin funding explorations projects to locate deposits of rare earth metals, a group of elements of increasing importance in variety of industries including green technology, defense systems, consumer electronics, and high-tech applications.

According to country’s Geological Survey (SGM), global demand for rare earths in 2016 will hit 160,000 tons, with China expected to produce up to 80% of that demand, which leaves room for other suppliers, The Economista reports (in Spanish).

At the moment about 95% of the world’s rare earths come from the Asian giant, which also imposes export . . .