➀ In the 18th century, the term 'terres' was used by chemists to refer to metallic oxides, which were considered rare due to their extraction and separation difficulties.

➁ The first rare earth element, yttrium, was identified in 1794 by the Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin.

➂ In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, elements like cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium were discovered and used in optics and lighting.

➃ The 20th-century industrial development gave rare earths a new impetus, especially in extraction methods, with over two hundred minerals containing these elements.

➄ In the 1940-1950s, they were used in alloys for metal strength, particularly in military applications.

➅ China has become a major player in rare earth extraction and refining, leading globally with over 90% of the world's supply.

➆ China's reserves are estimated at 44 million tons, with the U.S. and Greenland having smaller reserves.

➇ Ukraine holds 5% of the global reserves, particularly in areas controlled by Russian troops.