Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE)
The 10 heavy rare earth elements - Yttrium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, and Lutetium - are defined by their higher atomic mass and are far scarcer than light rare earths. HREEs are primarily sourced from ionic clay deposits (mainly southern China and Brazil) and are disproportionately critical for high-performance magnets used in EVs and wind turbines.
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1
H
Hydrogen
Atomic Number: 1
Symbol: H
2
He
Helium
Atomic Number: 2
Symbol: He
3
Li
Lithium
Atomic Number: 3
Symbol: Li
4
Be
Beryllium
Atomic Number: 4
Symbol: Be
5
B
Boron
Atomic Number: 5
Symbol: B
6
C
Carbon
Atomic Number: 6
Symbol: C
7
N
Nitrogen
Atomic Number: 7
Symbol: N
8
O
Oxygen
Atomic Number: 8
Symbol: O
9
F
Fluorine
Atomic Number: 9
Symbol: F
10
Ne
Neon
Atomic Number: 10
Symbol: Ne
11
Na
Sodium
Atomic Number: 11
Symbol: Na
12
Mg
Magnesium
Atomic Number: 12
Symbol: Mg
13
Al
Aluminium
Atomic Number: 13
Symbol: Al
14
Si
Silicon
Atomic Number: 14
Symbol: Si
15
P
Phosphorus
Atomic Number: 15
Symbol: P
16
S
Sulfur
Atomic Number: 16
Symbol: S
17
Cl
Chlorine
Atomic Number: 17
Symbol: Cl
18
Ar
Argon
Atomic Number: 18
Symbol: Ar
19
K
Potassium
Atomic Number: 19
Symbol: K
20
Ca
Calcium
Atomic Number: 20
Symbol: Ca
21
Sc
Scandium
Atomic Number: 21
Symbol: Sc
Rare Earth Element
22
Ti
Titanium
Atomic Number: 22
Symbol: Ti
23
V
Vanadium
Atomic Number: 23
Symbol: V
24
Cr
Chromium
Atomic Number: 24
Symbol: Cr
25
Mn
Manganese
Atomic Number: 25
Symbol: Mn
26
Fe
Iron
Atomic Number: 26
Symbol: Fe
27
Co
Cobalt
Atomic Number: 27
Symbol: Co
28
Ni
Nickel
Atomic Number: 28
Symbol: Ni
29
Cu
Copper
Atomic Number: 29
Symbol: Cu
30
Zn
Zinc
Atomic Number: 30
Symbol: Zn
31
Ga
Gallium
Atomic Number: 31
Symbol: Ga
32
Ge
Germanium
Atomic Number: 32
Symbol: Ge
33
As
Arsenic
Atomic Number: 33
Symbol: As
34
Se
Selenium
Atomic Number: 34
Symbol: Se
35
Br
Bromine
Atomic Number: 35
Symbol: Br
36
Kr
Krypton
Atomic Number: 36
Symbol: Kr
37
Rb
Rubidium
Atomic Number: 37
Symbol: Rb
38
Sr
Strontium
Atomic Number: 38
Symbol: Sr
39
Y
Yttrium
Atomic Number: 39
Symbol: Y
Rare Earth Element
40
Zr
Zirconium
Atomic Number: 40
Symbol: Zr
41
Nb
Niobium
Atomic Number: 41
Symbol: Nb
42
Mo
Molybdenum
Atomic Number: 42
Symbol: Mo
43
Tc
Technetium
Atomic Number: 43
Symbol: Tc
44
Ru
Ruthenium
Atomic Number: 44
Symbol: Ru
45
Rh
Rhodium
Atomic Number: 45
Symbol: Rh
46
Pd
Palladium
Atomic Number: 46
Symbol: Pd
47
Ag
Silver
Atomic Number: 47
Symbol: Ag
48
Cd
Cadmium
Atomic Number: 48
Symbol: Cd
49
In
Indium
Atomic Number: 49
Symbol: In
50
Sn
Tin
Atomic Number: 50
Symbol: Sn
51
Sb
Antimony
Atomic Number: 51
Symbol: Sb
52
Te
Tellurium
Atomic Number: 52
Symbol: Te
53
I
Iodine
Atomic Number: 53
Symbol: I
54
Xe
Xenon
Atomic Number: 54
Symbol: Xe
55
Cs
Caesium
Atomic Number: 55
Symbol: Cs
56
Ba
Barium
Atomic Number: 56
Symbol: Ba
72
Hf
Hafnium
Atomic Number: 72
Symbol: Hf
73
Ta
Tantalum
Atomic Number: 73
Symbol: Ta
74
W
Tungsten
Atomic Number: 74
Symbol: W
75
Re
Rhenium
Atomic Number: 75
Symbol: Re
76
Os
Osmium
Atomic Number: 76
Symbol: Os
77
Ir
Iridium
Atomic Number: 77
Symbol: Ir
78
Pt
Platinum
Atomic Number: 78
Symbol: Pt
79
Au
Gold
Atomic Number: 79
Symbol: Au
80
Hg
Mercury
Atomic Number: 80
Symbol: Hg
81
Tl
Thallium
Atomic Number: 81
Symbol: Tl
82
Pb
Lead
Atomic Number: 82
Symbol: Pb
83
Bi
Bismuth
Atomic Number: 83
Symbol: Bi
84
Po
Polonium
Atomic Number: 84
Symbol: Po
85
At
Astatine
Atomic Number: 85
Symbol: At
86
Rn
Radon
Atomic Number: 86
Symbol: Rn
87
Fr
Francium
Atomic Number: 87
Symbol: Fr
88
Ra
Radium
Atomic Number: 88
Symbol: Ra
104
Rf
Rutherfordium
Atomic Number: 104
Symbol: Rf
105
Db
Dubnium
Atomic Number: 105
Symbol: Db
106
Sg
Seaborgium
Atomic Number: 106
Symbol: Sg
107
Bh
Bohrium
Atomic Number: 107
Symbol: Bh
108
Hs
Hassium
Atomic Number: 108
Symbol: Hs
109
Mt
Meitnerium
Atomic Number: 109
Symbol: Mt
110
Ds
Darmstadtium
Atomic Number: 110
Symbol: Ds
111
Rg
Roentgenium
Atomic Number: 111
Symbol: Rg
112
Cn
Copernicium
Atomic Number: 112
Symbol: Cn
113
Nh
Nihonium
Atomic Number: 113
Symbol: Nh
114
Fl
Flerovium
Atomic Number: 114
Symbol: Fl
115
Mc
Moscovium
Atomic Number: 115
Symbol: Mc
116
Lv
Livermorium
Atomic Number: 116
Symbol: Lv
117
Ts
Tennessine
Atomic Number: 117
Symbol: Ts
118
Og
Oganesson
Atomic Number: 118
Symbol: Og
57
La
Lanthanum
Atomic Number: 57
Symbol: La
Rare Earth Element
58
Ce
Cerium
Atomic Number: 58
Symbol: Ce
Rare Earth Element
59
Pr
Praseodymium
Atomic Number: 59
Symbol: Pr
Rare Earth Element
60
Nd
Neodymium
Atomic Number: 60
Symbol: Nd
Rare Earth Element
61
Pm
Promethium
Atomic Number: 61
Symbol: Pm
Rare Earth Element
62
Sm
Samarium
Atomic Number: 62
Symbol: Sm
Rare Earth Element
63
Eu
Europium
Atomic Number: 63
Symbol: Eu
Rare Earth Element
64
Gd
Gadolinium
Atomic Number: 64
Symbol: Gd
Rare Earth Element
65
Tb
Terbium
Atomic Number: 65
Symbol: Tb
Rare Earth Element
66
Dy
Dysprosium
Atomic Number: 66
Symbol: Dy
Rare Earth Element
67
Ho
Holmium
Atomic Number: 67
Symbol: Ho
Rare Earth Element
68
Er
Erbium
Atomic Number: 68
Symbol: Er
Rare Earth Element
69
Tm
Thulium
Atomic Number: 69
Symbol: Tm
Rare Earth Element
70
Yb
Ytterbium
Atomic Number: 70
Symbol: Yb
Rare Earth Element
71
Lu
Lutetium
Atomic Number: 71
Symbol: Lu
Rare Earth Element
89
Ac
Actinium
Atomic Number: 89
Symbol: Ac
Actinide
90
Th
Thorium
Atomic Number: 90
Symbol: Th
Actinide
91
Pa
Protactinium
Atomic Number: 91
Symbol: Pa
Actinide
92
U
Uranium
Atomic Number: 92
Symbol: U
Actinide
93
Np
Neptunium
Atomic Number: 93
Symbol: Np
Actinide
94
Pu
Plutonium
Atomic Number: 94
Symbol: Pu
Actinide
95
Am
Americium
Atomic Number: 95
Symbol: Am
Actinide
96
Cm
Curium
Atomic Number: 96
Symbol: Cm
Actinide
97
Bk
Berkelium
Atomic Number: 97
Symbol: Bk
Actinide
98
Cf
Californium
Atomic Number: 98
Symbol: Cf
Actinide
99
Es
Einsteinium
Atomic Number: 99
Symbol: Es
Actinide
100
Fm
Fermium
Atomic Number: 100
Symbol: Fm
Actinide
101
Md
Mendelevium
Atomic Number: 101
Symbol: Md
Actinide
102
No
Nobelium
Atomic Number: 102
Symbol: No
Actinide
103
Lr
Lawrencium
Atomic Number: 103
Symbol: Lr
Actinide
Primary Sources
Ionic adsorption clay deposits in southern China dominate global HREE supply. Brazil (Serra Verde), Australia (Mt Weld xenotime zones), and deep-sea muds are emerging sources.
Supply Risk
HREEs represent <10% of rare earth production by mass but command a much higher price premium. China controls over 85% of refined HREE supply, creating significant geopolitical concentration risk.
Critical Applications
Dysprosium and Terbium enable NdFeB magnets to operate at high temperatures (EVs, wind turbines). Yttrium underpins phosphors and ceramics; Gadolinium is essential for MRI imaging.
HREE Elements
| Name | Symbol | Atomic # | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yttrium | Y | 39 | Red phosphors for displays (LEDs, LCDs), Ceramics, Lasers |
| Europium | Eu | 63 | Red/Blue phosphors (displays), Security inks, LED lighting |
| Gadolinium | Gd | 64 | MRI contrast agents, Neutron capture (Nuclear), Magnetostriction |
| Terbium | Tb | 65 | Green phosphors, Magnetostrictive alloys (e.g., T-b-D), Sensors |
| Dysprosium | Dy | 66 | High-temp performance in magnets (crucial for EVs/Wind), Control rods |
| Holmium | Ho | 67 | Specialized lasers, Magnet-pole pieces (magnetic flux concentrators) |
| Erbium | Er | 68 | Fiber optics, Amplifiers (EDFA), Special metallurgical alloys |
| Thulium | Tm | 69 | Portable X-ray machines, Metal halide lamps |
| Ytterbium | Yb | 70 | Fiber lasers (high-power industrial), Atomic clocks |
| Lutetium | Lu | 71 | PET scan detectors (medical imaging), Catalysts (refining) |
Compare with Light Rare Earths
LREEs are more abundant and lower-cost, but still critical for magnets, catalysts, and optical applications.