(chemistry) Any of the naturally occurring oxides of the lanthanide metals; they are widely distributed in relatively small concentrations and are used in glassmaking, ceramic glazes etc.

plural of rare earth

(chemistry) Any of a group of seventeen soft, lustrous, sometimes magnetic metals that form trivalent salts; they include the lanthanides plus yttrium, scandium, thorium and sometimes zirconium.

Strong, permanent magnets that are made from alloys of rare earth elements, are much stronger than ferrite or alnico magnets, and are extremely brittle.

The hypothesis that the evolution of life required an improbable combination of astrophysical and geological events and circumstances, and for this reason complex extraterrestrial life is a very improbable phenomenon and likely to be extremely rare.

plural of rare earth element

A mineral that contains one or more rare earth elements as major metal constituents.

plural of rare earth mineral

Alternative form of rare earth element

rare earth element