Cambridge Team Maps Rare Earth Deposits at 95-140 km Lithosphere Thickness
Updated
Updated · ScienceBlog.com · May 22
Cambridge Team Maps Rare Earth Deposits at 95-140 km Lithosphere Thickness
4 articles · Updated · ScienceBlog.com · May 22
Around 9,000 rock samples led University of Cambridge researchers to a pattern linking rare-earth-bearing deposits to lithosphere thickness, with key carbonatites clustering where the outer shell is about 95 to 140 km thick.
The Nature Geoscience study says CO2-rich melts concentrate metals beneath continents, and the richest carbonatites tend to form along steep craton margins where thick ancient lithosphere meets thinner younger material.
That gives explorers a more targeted playbook: use seismic imaging to identify those buried edges, then focus surface geology and drilling there instead of searching broadly.
China still produces about 70% of global rare earth supply, so the work could aid efforts in Europe, North America and Australia to find domestic sources for EVs, wind turbines and electronics.
The model so far covers rocks younger than 200 million years; testing whether the same rule explains older giant deposits such as Bayan Obo and Mountain Pass is the next step.
We now know where to find rare earths, but have we lost the knowledge to actually use them?
With a 2027 defense deadline looming, can the West rebuild its supply chain faster than China can react?
Mapping the Future of Rare Earths: The Cambridge Project’s Global Atlas and the Race for Secure, Sustainable Supply Chains
Overview
The Cambridge Project is tackling the global challenge of rare earth element (REE) supply by mapping where these critical metals are found in the Earth. As demand for REEs grows due to their use in modern technologies and clean energy, and with China controlling most of the supply, the project aims to create a global atlas of REE deposits. By studying the origins of magmatic rocks like carbonatites, which are key REE sources, Cambridge scientists hope to identify new deposits and help secure future supplies for regions like the UK and EU, reducing reliance on concentrated supply chains.