As the world's largest exporter of rare earths, China not only continues to explore new mines but also strengthens its leadership in the field through various means. According to information from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a team from the institute has discovered a large amount of rare earth elements within a type of fern called 'Dicranopteris linearis', and for the first time observed 'biomineralization' of rare earths in natural plants. This discovery is expected to contribute to the sustainable utilization of rare earth resources.
According to China News Service, the research team led by Researcher Zhu Jianxi at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, observed for the first time that rare earth elements 'self-assemble' between the plant cells of 'Dicranopteris linearis', forming a mineral known as 'monazite'.
This is reported to be the first time scientists have observed the biomineralization of rare earth elements in natural plants. The resulting monazite is an industrially important rare earth ore. Compared with naturally occurring monazite, which is often accompanied by radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium, the biologically formed monazite growing in Dicranopteris linearis is pure and non-radioactive.
As a result, the team's research paper, published in the international journal “Environmental Science & Technology”, points out that this discovery provides a new path for the sustainable utilization of rare earth resources in the future. By cultivating hyperaccumulator plants like Dicranopteris linearis, it is possible to restore polluted soil and rehabilitate rare earth mine tailings, while simultaneously recovering high-value rare earths from the plants themselves—realizing a green circular model of ‘remediation and recovery’ at the same time.
Rare earth elements are indispensable key raw materials for industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy, national defense, and semiconductors. Since China holds a dominant position globally in rare earth exports and production technology, rare earths have become an important bargaining chip in the ongoing China-U.S. trade war.