Archive · 18 Nov 2025
Chinese Fern Discovered to Naturally Produce Rare Earth Crystals
Scientists found a fern that grows in metal-rich soil and makes tiny crystals of rare earth metals.
These metals are super important for our tech stuff, but they're hard to get and mining them hurts the environment.
This fern could help us get these metals in a cleaner way.
Scientists in China discovered a fern that naturally produces rare earth crystals
The fern, Blechnum orientale, can absorb and form crystals containing rare earth elements (REEs)
REEs are vital for modern technology but are rare, expensive to extract, and mining causes environmental damage
This discovery could advance phytomining, an environmentally friendly method of extracting metals using plants
Monazite, a major mineral source of REEs, was found to form within the fern under normal surface conditions
- Who
- Scientists in China
- What
- Discovered a fern that naturally produces rare earth crystals
- When
- Recently
- Where
- South China
- Why
- To find a cleaner way to extract rare earth elements
- Fern Species
- Blechnum orientale
- Rare Earth Elements
- Vital for modern technology
- Current Extraction Method
- Mining, which causes environmental damage
- Potential New Method
- Phytomining, using plants to extract metals
- Discovered Mineral
- Nano-sized monazite