Spatial Dynamics of the Communities and the Role of Major Countries in the International Rare Earths Trade: A Complex Network Analysis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 5; p. e0154575
• Main Authors: Wang, Xibo, Ge, Jianping, Wei, Wendong, Li, Hanshi, Wu, Chen, Zhu, Ge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 03.05.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Communities; Computer and Information Sciences; Environmental protection; Exploitation; Exports; Geopolitics; Herbivores; Industrial development; International economic relations; International trade; Internationality; Laboratories; Metals, Rare Earth - economics; Mine wastes; Mining - economics; Mining industry; Models, Theoretical; Network analysis; People and Places; Rare earth elements; Rare earth metals; Residence Characteristics; Social Sciences; Spatial Analysis; Spatial distribution; Statistical mechanics; Strategic materials; Suppliers; Trade; China; Brazil; Beijing China; Australia; United States > US; Japan

Rare earths (RE) are critical materials in many high-technology products. Due to the uneven distribution and important functions for industrial development, most countries import RE from a handful of suppliers that are rich in RE, such as China. However, because of the rapid growth of RE exploitatio...