dysprosium
Coverage of dysprosium in the Nexus archive.
- US faces new pressure to build weapons without China's rare earth magnets
The U.S. is accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on China for rare earth minerals critical to defense systems, with Phoenix Tailings in New Hampshire working to extract elements like neodymium and dysprosium from mining waste. A $500 million Pentagon loan aims to expand the company's production capacity, addressing urgent military needs amid the Middle East war depleting munitions stocks.
- The West still doesn’t grasp the danger of China’s rare earth endgame
China has become the near-sole supplier of heavy rare earths critical for EVs, military technology, and renewable energy, and has restricted exports to Western defense companies. Beijing aims to retain the full production chain within China to maximize economic and employment benefits, while Western policymakers are urged to recognize this long-term strategic move. Price disparities for rare earth elements like dysprosium and terbium highlight China's control and resource hoarding.