FYI on REE Production Global rare earth production
Global production 1950–2000
Until 1948, most of the world's rare earths were sourced from placer sand deposits in India and Brazil.[8] Through the 1950s, South Africa took the status as the world's rare earth source, after large veins of rare earth bearing monazite were discovered there.[8] Through the 1960s until the 1980s, the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California was the leading producer. Today, the Indian and South African deposits still produce some rare earth concentrates, but they are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese production. China now produces over 97% of the world's rare earth supply, mostly in Inner Mongolia,[9][10] even though it has only 37% of proven reserve
