Rare-earth elements, a group of 17 metallic elements including the 15 lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, are crucial for green technologies and electronics. Despite not always being scarce, their low concentrations and mixture in minerals make them difficult and expensive to extract and separate. Historically termed 'rare earths' due to their oxide forms and difficulty in isolation, these elements are vital for high-performance magnets, specialized lighting, optics, and catalysts, driving global interest in their acquisition.