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Rare earth metals—more commonly called rare-earth elements (REEs)—usually means a group of 17 elements: the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. The name does not mean that all 17 are exceptionally scarce in Earth’s crust; it reflects a group whose economically useful, concentrated deposits are limited.
What are rare earth metals?
Rare earth metals are a chemically similar group of elements. “Rare-earth elements” is the more common term; “metals” refers to their elemental classification. In nature, they are generally found in minerals rather than as isolated native metals.
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The familiar broad definition includes 17 elements. Some references describe the group more narrowly or say that scandium and yttrium are often included, so it helps to state which convention is meant. The U.S. Geological Survey’s 2012 report explicitly defines the group as scandium, yttrium, and the 15 lanthanides.
Which elements are rare earth metals?
Using the common 17-element convention, the group consists of the lanthanides from lanthanum through lutetium, along with scandium and yttrium:
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- Lanthanides (15): lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
- Often included with them: scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y).
The lanthanides are the 15-element series; the broad rare-earth grouping adds scandium and yttrium. The USGS Thesaurus says those two elements are often included, while a USGS report gives the explicit 17-element definition. (USGS Professional Paper 1802-O; USGS Thesaurus; USGS 2012 report)
Are rare earth metals actually rare?
Not necessarily. “Rare” does not mean that every member is scarce throughout Earth’s crust, and it is not a precise abundance threshold. Average crustal abundance is different from the availability of deposits where the elements are concentrated enough to be economically useful. The USGS puts it plainly: “Although REEs are not rare in terms of average crustal abundance, the concentrated deposits of REEs are limited in number.” (USGS Professional Paper 1802-O; USGS fact sheet)
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How are rare-earth elements used?
The elements have different properties and applications; they are not interchangeable, and not every REE has the same use. The USGS identifies glass polishing and additives that give glass color or special optical properties among leading uses for rare-earth raw materials. Its 2025 critical-minerals overview, for example, describes samarium uses in permanent magnets, nuclear reactors, and cancer treatments, and scandium uses in strengthening metal alloys, fuel cells, and high-intensity lighting. (USGS Professional Paper 1802-O; USGS 2025 critical-minerals overview)
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- Rare-earth elements are the chemical elements in the group.
- Rare-earth minerals are naturally occurring materials that host one or more of those elements. A mineral deposit or ore containing them is not itself an element.
- Critical minerals are a policy category based on factors such as economic or national importance and supply risk. The list depends on jurisdiction and can change; it is not another name for rare earths.
These terms describe related but distinct things: a chemical grouping, the natural materials that contain its members, and a policy classification. Not every rare-earth element is necessarily on every jurisdiction’s critical-minerals list. (USGS critical-minerals overview)
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