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lughnasadh OP t1_jaheh1y wrote

Reply to comment by fauxbeauceron in German scientists show a commercially feasible method for cyanobacteria to extract 17 rare earth elements from low-concentration sources. Currently, most of the world's supply of these elements is mined in China. by lughnasadh

>>If that method can be scaled up

I don't think there's any technical issue with it being scaled up, the researchers say as much in the original paper.

The issue is cost.

Will it produce the rare earth elements as cheaply as the mined product?

If supply-chain security is an issue, then maybe consumers might have to accept higher prices from non-Chinese sources.

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ShitTalkingAlt980 t1_jahl38o wrote

There always is.

Source: just watched the same thing happen for Au from a wunderkind firm from Houston. Small test pad even showed promise. It is incredibly variable on a production leach pad.

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