Scientists discover rare-earth elements in living plant for first time
12 Nov 2025

In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of scientists led by Chinese researchers has found a naturally occurring mineral containing rare earth elements in a fern.

The find is the first of its kind and presents an eco-friendly model for extracting these valuable materials.

The researchers discovered nanoscale monazite, a rare-earth phosphate mineral, in the living plant.

Earliest known case of rare earth elements crystallizing into mineral
Potential applications

The discovery of nanoscale monazite in a living plant "opens new possibilities for the direct recovery of functional rare earth element materials," the researchers said.

They also noted that this is the earliest known case of rare earth elements crystallizing into a mineral phase within a hyperaccumulator.

Hyperaccumulators are plants that can absorb and tolerate high concentrations of metals from their environment.

Study supports phytomining as viable method for sustainable resource development
Phytomining

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology, supports phytomining as a viable method for sustainable rare earth element resource development.

Phytomining is an innovative approach that uses plants to extract metals from soil or water.

The research was conducted by scientists from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an earth scientist at Virginia Tech in the United States.