The data shows the production of bastnäsite in the U.S. from 2012 to 2015. In 2015, the U.S. produced some 5,900 metric tons of rare earth oxide equivalents of bastnasite. Bastnäsite is a group of three carbonate-fluoride minerals, each composed of different combinations of the rare earth elements cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium in combination with carbonate-fluoride. Rare earth elements today are commonly used in automobile catalysts and petroleum refining catalysts, televisions, magnets, batteries, and medical devices.
