The rare earth elements (REE) comprise a group of seventeen metallic elements, including the fifteen lanthanides present in the periodic table, along with scandium and yttrium.
Traditionally, these REEs are categorised into two groups based on their atomic weight:
- The light REEs (LREEs), encompassing lanthanum through gadolinium (atomic numbers 57 through 64).
- The heavy REEs (HREEs), covering terbium through lutetium (atomic numbers 65 through 71).
Rare Earth Elements find application in various fields ranging from glass additives to ceramics, converters, lasers and more. However, their geopolitical significance primarily lies in their use for permanent magnets.
Pensana plc (LON:PRE) explores and mines neodymium, praseodymium, and rare earth minerals. The Company’s flagship assets are the Saltend rare earth refinery project in the United Kingdom and Longonjo neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) Project in Angola.