Demand for rare earths are currently experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 10%, according to some estimates, as the call for hi-tech applications increases.
With this surge in demand raising questions about future availability of rare earths, some have suggested that supply issues could be partially solved through globalphosphate development.
Speaking at SYMPHOS 2013, Patrice Christmann, deputy director of the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) corporate strategy directorate, told delegates that among the many rare earths-bearing minerals, apatite of phosphate is of particular interest as a potential future source of rare earth metals.
