The Bunker – News without the nonsense Masters of Metal – What are Rare Earth Metals and why does Trump want them so badly?
Feb 5, 2026
Ronan Murphy, editor at Argus Non-Ferrous Markets and commodities journalist, breaks down rare earth metals in plain terms. He explains their role in tech and defence. He assesses Greenland’s deposits, legal and environmental limits, and why uranium rules complicate mining. He also covers China’s dominance, processing bottlenecks, recycling challenges, and how policy and finance shape global supply.
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Value Comes From Magnetic Properties
- Rare earths are not always scarce; their value comes from unique magnetic properties, not rarity.
- Ronan Murphy explains they enable powerful, high-temperature magnets used across electronics and defense.
Greenland's Resources Aren't Easy To Access
- Greenland has substantial deposits but no operating rare-earth mines yet and only a few developed projects.
- Harsh climate, ice cover and limited ports make large-scale mining and shipping feasible mainly in southern Greenland.
Heavy Rare Earths Enable High Heat Use
- Light rare earths (neodymium, praseodymium) give strong magnetic fields, while heavy ones (dysprosium, terbium) enable high-temperature performance.
- Greenland is notable because it has unusually high concentrations of heavy rare earths crucial for turbines and EVs.