Quebec Rare Earth Elements (QREE) is a mining exploration and development company focused on Rare Earth Elements (REE), primarily in the favourable mining jurisdiction of Quebec. QREE is led by a Quebec based team that has decades of mining experience across all stages of development, from grassroots discoveries, resource development, economic studies, financing, construction, production and on-going operations. Local community engagement is a core principle on which we seek to build a sustainable, high quality, high integrity business for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Opportunity
QREE is well positioned to capitalize on the REE opportunity, given Quebec’s rich mineral endowment and favourable mining jurisdiction. Further, the Quebec based team has the full complement of skills to add value to any stage REE project.
About Rare Earth Elements
The rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, consisting of scandium, yttrium, and the 15 lanthanides. The lanthanides include cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Despite their name, some rare earth elements are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but they are called “rare” because they are often found together in mineral deposits and are challenging to extract and separate.
These elements have a variety of uses across different industries due to their unique properties. Some common applications of rare earth elements include:
- Magnets: Neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium are essential components in the production of powerful permanent magnets. These magnets are used in many modern technologies, including electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and various electronics.
- Catalysts: Cerium, lanthanum, and other rare earth elements are used as catalysts in various industrial processes, such as petroleum refining and automotive catalytic converters.
- Electronics: Rare earth elements are used in the manufacturing of electronics, including smartphones, tablets, and flat-screen displays. Europium and terbium, for example, are used in the production of colour phosphors for television screens.
- Lighting: Lanthanum and europium are used in the production of energy-efficient phosphors for fluorescent lighting.
- Glass and Ceramics: Cerium oxide is used as a polishing agent in glass and ceramics production.
- Defense Applications: Rare earth elements have critical applications in the defense industry, including in the production of missile guidance systems, radar systems, and various electronic components.
- Medical Imaging: Gadolinium is used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures.
- Nuclear Energy: Some rare earth elements, such as neodymium and europium, are used in nuclear reactors.
It’s important to note that the dependence on REEs for various high-tech applications has raised concerns about their global availability, as a significant portion of the world’s supply comes from a few sources, primarily in China. While efforts are underway to explore alternative sources and recycling methods to ensure a more sustainable supply chain for these critical elements, we at QREE believe that secure, North American supplies of rare earth elements must be found and developed to ensure the continuity of the REE supply chain in the United States and Canada.
