The Green Elements, often seen as an appendage to periodic tables, have an ever-growing variety of applications in modern technology. The physical and chemical properties of the Rare Earth elements contribute essential functions to a range of uses that affect our daily lives. Consider the following:

The miniaturization of cell phones, PDA’s, other mobile devices, media players such as iPod®’s, computers and computing devices, “ear bud” speakers, microphones, and a host of other items is made possible by powerful, Neodymium-based magnets. You can find other Rare Earth elements in these devices as well, for example, in the battery powering some cell phones and in the display screen of your laptop.

The Rare Earths unique luminescent properties allowed us to make the leap from black & white to color television many decades ago. Today, Rare Earth materials using Europium, Yttrium, Cerium, and Terbium are in a variety of devices requiring those unique properties such as flat panel displays, LCD’s, and Plasma screens.

Optical lenses such as those found in digital cameras and camcorders and glass found in scanners and copiers require Lanthanum and other Rare Earths as additives.

Hard disk drives, CD and DVD players and speakers all use Neodymium magnets

Medical applications such as the MRI, x-ray screening systems, and PET medical imaging devices rely on rare earths as do other hi-tech applications such as jet engines, optical fiber, and lasers.

Many of the devices listed above, as well as numerous others, can be classified as "Dual-Use" as they also find utility in all branches of the military in addition to civilian applications. More information can be found in Defense Applications.