A Chinese research team has announced the discovery of a naturally occurring mineral with rare earth elements within a fern plant. The team, led by Chinese scientists, reports identifying nanoscale monazite within the plant’s tissues. This represents a significant breakthrough, potentially offering a “green circular model” for extracting valuable rare earth elements. The discovery validates a novel extraction technique and suggests new avenues for sustainable rare earth resource recovery. The finding could influence future mining practices and contribute to the development of efficient material processing methods.
Credits: News – South China Morning Post
