Review of publicly available academic, industry, and NGO research as well as first-hand personal accounts of the impacts of neodymium and praseodymium mining and processing (primarily for use in magnets).

Summary:

• Unlike an element like copper—which has been mined and used by humans for thousands of years—praseodymium (Pr) and neodymium (Nd) are relatively new to human use, and some of their sustainability impacts are still being discovered

• Pr and Nd, like the other rare earth elements (REEs), have unusual (and useful) chemical and physical properties, but these same properties also makes the REEs very difficult to separate from each other

• As such, REE production is complex, expensive, and generates a massive amount of dangerous waste; most of which (as in many mining operations) is stored outside in what are called tailings lakes

• In addition, most ores with Nd and Pr are co-present with radioactive elements, which present human and environmental health risks

• Unlike many other metals, there relatively few mines producing REEs like Nd and Pr; most mining still comes out of China, and the majority of production happens there

• Bayan Obo in China mines and produces of a large amount of the world’s Nd and Pr supply, even as other countries’ mines come online. Unfortunately it also has an extremely poor environmental record, including being connected to the creation of local “cancer villages”

• Recycling Nd and Pr offers great promise in helping reduce environmental and human impact