Which of the following rare earth elements are found abundantly in the monazite sands of Kerala?
Correct Answer: Lanthanides
Subject: geography
- Lithium and Cobalt
- Lanthanides
- Uranium and Plutonium
- Silicon and Germanium
Explanation: • Rare Earth Elements (REEs) include 15 lanthanides along with scandium and yttrium.
• India extracts REEs from monazite-rich beach sands in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
• Kerala produces ~40% of India’s output via Chavara & Aluva plants.
• Lithium, Cobalt, and Silicon are not part of the 17 REE group.
• Trick: 'Rare Earth = Lanthanides in Sand'.
• They are critical for high-tech applications like magnets, batteries, and defense systems.