Rare earth elements: Rare earth element resources of Turkey

Rare earth elements (REEs) include 15 elements in the periodic table with atomic numbers from 57 (Lanthanium-La) to 71 (Lutesium-Lu) with chemically similar properties. These elements are also called lanthanide group elements. The elements yttrium (Y) with atomic number 39 and scandium (Sc) with atomic number 21 are also included in the REE group due to their similar ion diameters and small atomic diameters. In recent years, the importance of Rare Earth Elements has increased much more, especially the use of raw materials in the defense industry and digitalized technology has caused this. Rare Earth Elements can be shiny, iron, gray or silver in color. They are generally soft, easily shaped and easily reactive. Melting points increase further along the series in which they are located. The supply of rare earth elements is declining despite increasing demand. China alone provides 60% of global consumption. As China represents 95% of the global supply and is in the process of cutting off it's exports, they will likely continue to dominate rare earth element consumption in the short term. China is reducing it's export quota and the prices of rare earths are rising. This make so the countries in the world think about getting into this business. This decline has led tospeculation, potential demand and concerns about what will happen to pricing. In Turkiye, Rare Earth Element deposits and mineralizations can be examined in four groups according to their origin. First, they are deposits associated with carbonatite-alkaline magmatites. Kızılcaören (Eskişehir) and Kuluncak (Malatya) have a total REE grade of 2.9% and 0.7%, respectively, and are the most well-known deposits. Keban (0.05%) and Divriği (0.13%) mineralizations with low TNYE grade are rich in fluorite. Consequently, the potential areas of our country in terms of rare earth elements should be carefully examined.