Learning Lab

Learn what rare earth elements are, how rare earth separation works, what rare earth oxides are, and why rare earth processing matters to North American supply chains.

Rare earth elements play a small but important role in many advanced technologies. They are used in materials that support permanent magnets, electric motors, wind turbines, electronics, aerospace systems, industrial equipment, and other high-performance applications.

This Learning Centre explains the rare earth supply chain in plain language. Start here to understand the terms, materials, and processing steps behind rare earth elements and Ucore’s role in North American rare earth separation.

The Rare Earth Learning Centre is a plain-language resource for understanding rare earth elements, rare earth separation, rare earth oxides, and the supply chain between mining and advanced manufacturing. It explains key terms such as REE, TREO, MREC, MREO, NdPr, solvent extraction, and RapidSX™.

How rare earths move through the supply chain

• Rare earth supply chains include several stages. Each stage adds value and prepares the material for the next step.
• Mining and mineral extraction produce rare earth-bearing material.
• Beneficiation upgrades that material into a more concentrated form.
• Chemical processing converts the material into an intermediate product, such as a mixed rare earth carbonate or mixed rare earth oxide.
• Separation divides mixed rare earth materials into individual rare earth products.
• Oxide production creates separated rare earth oxides.
• Downstream manufacturing can convert oxides into metals, alloys, magnets, components, and finished products.
• This is why rare earth supply chains are often described as more than mining. The processing and separation stages are critical links between mineral resources and advanced manufacturing.

Key rare earth terms

REE

REE stands for rare earth element.

TREO

TREO stands for total rare earth oxide. It is used to describe the combined rare earth oxide content in a material.

MREC

MREC stands for mixed rare earth carbonate. It is an intermediate rare earth material that still contains multiple rare earth elements.

MREO

MREO stands for mixed rare earth oxide. It is a mixed rare earth material in oxide form.

NdPr

NdPr refers to neodymium-praseodymium. These two rare earth elements are closely associated with high-performance permanent magnet supply chains.

Solvent extraction

Solvent extraction is a chemical separation process used to separate and purify materials, including rare earth elements.

RapidSX™

RapidSX™ is Ucore’s proprietary rare earth separation technology. Ucore is commercializing RapidSX™ as part of its strategy to advance North American rare earth separation and refining.

How Ucore fits in

Ucore is focused on rare earth processing and separation. The company is commercializing RapidSX™, its proprietary separation technology, and advancing its Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex as part of a broader North American rare earth supply chain strategy.

Popular questions

Are rare earth elements actually rare?

Not always. Rare earth elements can be relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but they are often difficult to mine, process, and separate into individual usable products.

Why are rare earths important?

Rare earths are important because they help materials perform in powerful ways. They are used in technologies such as permanent magnets, electric motors, wind turbines, electronics, aerospace systems, and industrial applications.

What is the difference between mining and separation?

Mining removes rare earth-bearing material from the ground. Separation is a later processing step that divides mixed rare earth materials into individual rare earth products.

What does Ucore do in the rare earth supply chain?

Ucore is focused on rare earth separation and refining. Its RapidSX™ technology is being commercialized to separate rare earth elements and support production of rare earth oxide products.