The Center of the Universe
If you want to understand rare earths, you must start here. Bayan Obo is not just a mine; it is a geological freak. Located in Inner Mongolia, China, it has produced over 45% of the world’s rare earths for decades.
Iron First, REE Second
Interestingly, Bayan Obo is primarily an iron ore mine. The rare earths (Bastnäsite and Monazite) are actually a byproduct of steel production. This gives Chinese producers a massive economic advantage: the mining costs are largely covered by the steel industry, effectively making the rare earths “free” to extract before processing.