So-called "rare earth" minerals aren't rare at all. In fact, aside from plutonium, most of the 17 rare-earth elements are more abundant in Earth's crust than gold. The catch is this: they're spread out everywhere, but you rarely find them in high enough concentration to mine profitably.

What that means in plain terms is that we don't have to go digging deep to find them — we just have to find the places where they're concentrated enough, and do it the right way.

Geology, Deposits and Control

China dominates global rare-earth deposits. Its giant Bayan Obo Mine in Inner Mongolia alone contains what's effectively the biggest single rare-earth orebody and produces large portions of the world's supply. China also controls much of the processing capacity globally, which gives it a strategic advantage.

There are significant deposits outside China too — for example, highly concentrated ore at Mount Weld in Western Australia, and the U.S.'s Mountain Pass Mine in California, which is the only large-scale rare-earth mine in the U.S.

The practical question is this: *Do we want to drill a gigantic hole in the earth, mine rare earths here in America, and deal with the environmental cost?* Because it's perfectly possible. It's not a matter of "are they there" — it's a matter of "where and how."

The Environmental & Geopolitical Angle

One of the best ways to understand this is by turning over the usual sales pitch. People say, "America doesn't have enough rare earths," or "we don't control the supply." The truth is we have them, but we outsource much of the mining and processing because we didn't want the jobs, the environmental burden, or the change when others were willing.

China, by contrast, built its industrial revolution fast, including rare-earth mines in places like Baotou where most of China's reserves are located. And yes, mining may cost the earth — literally. Extracting rare earths often involves open pits, heavy waste, and chemical processes.

If we're committed to electric vehicles, wind turbines, magnets, and high tech, the question becomes whether we're willing to accept mining's footprint domestically, or keep relying on someone else's labor and environment.

Myth vs. Reality

- **Myth:** "Rare = very hard to find." **Reality:** Abundance isn't the issue; concentrated, minable deposits are.

- **Myth:** "Only China has rare earths worth mining." **Reality:** We have them in the U.S., Australia, and elsewhere. We just haven't always mined or processed them here at scale.

- **Myth:** "Rare earths are pure and ready to go." **Reality:** Even when the mineral is there, it often needs massive processing, and major supply-chain decisions depend on where and how it's done.

My Take

I believe the term "rare earth" is outdated if we're just talking raw geology. The real question is: *Are we willing to do the work, build the processing, and accept the cost of mining?* Because if we are — then we have options.

We don't need to stay locked out of critical mineral supply chains. We just need to decide where we drill, who pays for it, and how cleanly we do it.

So yes — rare earths are rare in terms of concentrated mining deposits, but they are common in the crust. It's not that we don't have them. It's that we've chosen to depend on others and let environmental, political, and logistical issues decide where the holes go.

I think we should ask ourselves: *Do we want the holes in our backyard or someone else's?*