{"id":968,"date":"2013-07-08T08:58:18","date_gmt":"2013-07-08T12:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/?p=968"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:07:16","slug":"whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rare Nothing.\u00a0 Rare Earth Elements (REE) are not rare at all.<\/p>\n

Despite the name, these elements \u2013 defined as the 15 lanthanides plus scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y) \u2013 are not as rare as one might think. Although originally thought to be rare, many of the minerals are actually common in the Earth\u2019s crust.\u00a0 However, due to the difficulties in extracting the metal from the ore, rare is a fitting term. These elements rarely exist in pure form; they are usually found within other minerals, making them costly to mine. Ironically, the reasons for extracting them are plentiful.<\/p>\n

REEs are commonly used in consumer electronics such as televisions, tablet computers, cameras, and mobile phones, as well as automobile catalytic converters and rechargeable batteries due to their unique optical and magnetic properties. They are also known as the \u201cGreen Elements\u201d because they are essential to many green energy technologies. With the growing popularity of hybrid cars and other green products, rare earth elements are becoming more and more important to manufacturing.<\/p>\n

Take a look at this infographic for a quick peek at the many ways rare earth elements are used<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For REE exploration, you should use the appropriate portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer<\/a>, perform some sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation option.\u00a0 Although tube-based analyzers can fill most mining needs, a 40 kV tube does not have the ability to excite the common REEs. In fact, the excitation efficiency of a 50kV tube in measuring rare earth elements versus x-ray tubes with a lower voltage have shown conclusively that the lower kV tubes are generally unsuitable for this application. 50 kV tube -based analyzers can analyze light REEs including La, Ce, Pr and Nd.<\/p>\n

Isotope-based analyzers cover a broader suite of REEs than tube-based analyzers, and offer direct analysis of these elements: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), and dysprosium (Dy), as well as yttrium (Y), uranium (U) and thorium (Th). This breadth of elements can be vital during processing or activities other than exploration, or when direct measurement of heavy REEs is required.<\/p>\n

To confirm that either option, tube-based or isotope-sourced, will deliver accurate analysis depending on need, a study was conducted using Thermo Scientific portable XRF analyzers. Twenty-five certified reference materials (CRM) and lab-analyzed samples were packed into standard XRF sample cups fitted with Mylar film and measured with an isotope analyzer for 150 seconds. Seventeen CRM and lab-analyzed samples were packed into standard XRF sample cups fitted with Mylar film and measured with a tube-based analyzer for 120 seconds. Analysis time varied depending on precision requirements.<\/p>\n

To see the results, including the correlation curves, repeatability data, methodology, and comments regarding the comparison of the x-ray fluorescence analyzers, read this REE application summary<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nothing.\u00a0 Rare Earth Elements (REE) are not rare at all. Despite the name, these elements \u2013 defined as the 15 lanthanides plus scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y) \u2013 are not as rare as one might think. Although originally thought to be rare, many of the minerals are actually common in the Earth\u2019s crust.\u00a0 However, due<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,11,27],"tags":[83,137,40,16,61,138,28,139,76,23],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-968","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-elemental-geochemical-analysis","8":"category-portable-xrf","9":"category-rare-earth-elements","10":"tag-elemental-analysis-2","11":"tag-green-elements","12":"tag-handheld-xrf","13":"tag-mining-2","14":"tag-portable-xrf-2","15":"tag-rare-earth","16":"tag-rare-earth-elements-2","17":"tag-ree","18":"tag-x-ray-fluorescence","19":"tag-xrf","20":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1199],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Advancing Mining\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1754\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ali Somarin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ali Somarin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ali Somarin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565\"},\"headline\":\"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":466,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"elemental analysis\",\"green elements\",\"handheld xrf\",\"mining\",\"portable xrf\",\"rare earth\",\"rare earth elements\",\"REE\",\"x-ray fluorescence\",\"xrf\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Elemental\\\/Geochemical Analysis\",\"Portable XRF\",\"Rare Earth Elements\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565\"},\"description\":\"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg\",\"width\":2700,\"height\":1754,\"caption\":\"Rare Earth Elements\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/mining\\\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/\",\"name\":\"Advancing Mining\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/mining\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565\",\"name\":\"Ali Somarin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ali Somarin\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/author\\\/alireza-somarinthermofisher-com\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?","description":"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?","og_description":"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/","og_site_name":"Advancing Mining","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thermofisher","article_published_time":"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2700,"height":1754,"url":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ali Somarin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@thermofisher","twitter_site":"@thermofisher","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ali Somarin","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/"},"author":{"name":"Ali Somarin","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/#\/schema\/person\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565"},"headline":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?","datePublished":"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/"},"wordCount":466,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","keywords":["elemental analysis","green elements","handheld xrf","mining","portable xrf","rare earth","rare earth elements","REE","x-ray fluorescence","xrf"],"articleSection":["Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","Portable XRF","Rare Earth Elements"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/","name":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","datePublished":"2013-07-08T12:58:18+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-06T15:07:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/#\/schema\/person\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565"},"description":"For mining and REE exploration, you should use portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyzer, perform sample preparation, and choose the correct excitation.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","width":2700,"height":1754,"caption":"Rare Earth Elements"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/whats-so-rare-about-rare-earth-elements\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What\u2019s So Rare About Rare Earth Elements?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/#website","url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/","name":"Advancing Mining","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/#\/schema\/person\/221f9fc8c2093ee2fe5c4df3861fe565","name":"Ali Somarin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17fb0b34b2d8eeab22a9d52c1513fb313468707e8095c3538834fa1405bd7323?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ali Somarin"},"url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/author\/alireza-somarinthermofisher-com\/"}]}},"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":6,"label":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis"},{"value":11,"label":"Portable XRF"},{"value":27,"label":"Rare Earth Elements"}],"post_tag":[{"value":83,"label":"elemental analysis"},{"value":137,"label":"green elements"},{"value":40,"label":"handheld xrf"},{"value":16,"label":"mining"},{"value":61,"label":"portable xrf"},{"value":138,"label":"rare earth"},{"value":28,"label":"rare earth elements"},{"value":139,"label":"REE"},{"value":76,"label":"x-ray fluorescence"},{"value":23,"label":"xrf"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2-1024x665.jpg",760,494,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Ali Somarin","author_link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/author\/alireza-somarinthermofisher-com\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","slug":"elemental-geochemical-analysis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":144,"filter":"raw","meta":[],"cat_ID":6,"category_count":144,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","category_nicename":"elemental-geochemical-analysis","category_parent":0},{"term_id":11,"name":"Portable XRF","slug":"portable-xrf","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":76,"filter":"raw","meta":[],"cat_ID":11,"category_count":76,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Portable XRF","category_nicename":"portable-xrf","category_parent":0},{"term_id":27,"name":"Rare Earth Elements","slug":"rare-earth-elements","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":27,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":29,"filter":"raw","meta":[],"cat_ID":27,"category_count":29,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Rare Earth Elements","category_nicename":"rare-earth-elements","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":83,"name":"elemental analysis","slug":"elemental-analysis-2","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":83,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":137,"name":"green elements","slug":"green-elements","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":137,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":40,"name":"handheld xrf","slug":"handheld-xrf","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":40,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":16,"name":"mining","slug":"mining-2","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":16,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":111,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":61,"name":"portable xrf","slug":"portable-xrf-2","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":61,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":138,"name":"rare earth","slug":"rare-earth","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":138,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":28,"name":"rare earth elements","slug":"rare-earth-elements-2","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":28,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":139,"name":"REE","slug":"ree","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":139,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":76,"name":"x-ray fluorescence","slug":"x-ray-fluorescence","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":76,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":8,"filter":"raw","meta":[]},{"term_id":23,"name":"xrf","slug":"xrf","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":23,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":46,"filter":"raw","meta":[]}],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13544,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/did-you-read-these-mining-and-minerals-articles-yet\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":0},"title":"Did You Read These Mining and Minerals Articles Yet?","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"December 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"According to Google, here are the Top 10 read articles this year from Advancing Mining. Some have been around for quite awhile, but are still as relevant as ever. If you missed any of the latest articles, just click\u00a0here\u00a0to see the most recently published articles. You can even filter by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General\/Industry"","block_context":{"text":"General\/Industry","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/general-industry-mining\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Top 10, words, isolated on a dark blue background. Alphabet on stone blocks.Rating. Rating concept. Background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/iStock-1411361298.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1624,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/a-halloween-treat-free-periodic-table\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":1},"title":"A Halloween Treat – Free Periodic Table","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"October 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"No tricks here. Download this handy periodic table and X-ray energy reference guide to help in analyzing your mining samples. \u00a0It's our treat. Then visit our Mining and Minerals, Cement Production, and Coal Power pages for more goodies. Download Periodic Table.\u00a0 \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis"","block_context":{"text":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/elemental-geochemical-analysis\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"halloween scene with plastic pumpkin and candy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/No-Tricks-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/No-Tricks-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/No-Tricks-.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/No-Tricks-.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/No-Tricks-.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13986,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/best-practices-for-accurate-in-situ-geochemical-analysis\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":2},"title":"Best Practices for Accurate In Situ Geochemical Analysis","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In situ geochemical analysis refers to elemental testing performed directly on geological materials in their natural location, avoiding the delays and costs associated with laboratory testing.\u00a0 While in situ geochemical analysis delivers immediate elemental data, the reliability of those results depends heavily on proper field methodology. Portable analytical technologies used\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exploration"","block_context":{"text":"Exploration","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/exploration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mining truck on a dirt road in the Andes, Chile (near Embalse El Yeso, Caj\u00f3n del Maipo, San Jos\u00e9 de Maipo)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-2222354034.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13977,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/what-is-in-situ-geochemical-analysis-and-why-it-is-critical-for-modern-field-operations\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":3},"title":"What Is In Situ Geochemical Analysis \u2014 And Why It Is Critical for Modern Field Operations","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"March 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In situ geochemical analysis has become a cornerstone of modern mineral exploration, mining, and environmental fieldwork. As project timelines tighten and operational costs increase, organizations can no longer afford delays caused by traditional laboratory testing workflows. In situ analysis \u2014 the ability to measure elemental composition directly at the sampling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exploration"","block_context":{"text":"Exploration","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/exploration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close up of industrial worker holding mineral ore in gloved hands on mining site","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13488,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/the-role-of-edxrf-spectrometers-in-the-extraction-of-copper-from-ore\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":4},"title":"The Role of EDXRF Spectrometers in the Extraction of Copper from Ore","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"November 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Copper extraction is a complex process requiring precise control to ensure high purity. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometers play a vital role by providing fast, non-destructive elemental analysis of ores, concentrates, and intermediate products. This enables mining operations to optimize extraction efficiency, maintain quality assurance, and meet stringent industry\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis"","block_context":{"text":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/elemental-geochemical-analysis\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"a rock showing signs of copper and gold.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2707,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/potash-a-look-at-the-worlds-most-popular-fertilizer\/","url_meta":{"origin":968,"position":5},"title":"Potash: A Look at the World\u2019s Most Popular Fertilizer","author":"Ali Somarin","date":"April 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Potash Explained Potash is one of the most essential fertilizers in modern agriculture, supplying potassium\u2014an irreplaceable nutrient that supports plant growth, crop yield, and overall food production. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), about 85% of potash is used in fertilizers, underscoring its critical role in global farming systems.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Data Management\/Lab Automation"","block_context":{"text":"Data Management\/Lab Automation","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/data-management-lab-automation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"potash evaporation ponds at mining site","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/07\/d115-1_w_labels_2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/968\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=968"},{"taxonomy":"division","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/division?post=968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}