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A lab in the US has discovered properties in iron that may reduce the need for rare earth mining.

The Ames Laboratory for the Department of Energy has observed magnetic properties of “permanence” in a new compound of iron, properties typically associated with rare earth elements.

Permanence is the ability of a magnet to maintain the direction of a magnetic fixed field, also called anisotropy, which is crucial for magnets used in applications such as direct-drive wind turbines or electric motors.

Read more at: http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/magnetic-rare-earths-mining-could-be-replaced-with