Swedish researchers are exploring how the country’s mineral resources could support cleaner production of rare earth elements (REE) and the powerful magnets made from them. As part of the Sustainable materials and material flows research area, Martin Sahlberg is studying whether Sweden’s deposits could become the foundation for a more sustainable magnet industry.
Many of the materials needed for cleaner energy systems and advanced technologies are still produced through processes that carry significant environmental costs. Rare earth magnets, for example, are largely manufactured in China, where environmental rules and industrial standards differ from those in Sweden.
Rare Earth Magnets and Global Supply Risks
“It’s a geopolitical problem,” says Martin Sahlberg, Professor of Materials Chemistry at Uppsala University.
“In the last year with the trade war and the US tariffs, we’ve seen that China halted exports of rare earth elements. We can also mention Trump’s move on Greenland and the Ukraine-United States Mineral Resources Agreement as other examples of geopolitical conflicts.”
Producing rare earth materials is also environmentally difficult. Separating and purifying the elements from mineral deposits often requires toxic chemicals, while radioactive substances are frequently present in the same geological formations.
“It’s rather a dirty business today,” says Martin Sahlberg.
Rare Earth Elements Are More Common Than Their Name Suggests
Rare earth elements are essential for displays, magnets, and other functional materials that play an important role in the transition to a more sustainable society. Despite their name, however, the elements themselves are not especially scarce.
The real challenge is finding deposits where they occur in concentrations high enough to make extraction economically practical.
“In Sweden our possibilities for extracting REE, even when compared internationally, are relatively good,” he says.
Sweden has known rare earth mineral deposits in Kiruna, Bergslagen and Norra Kärr outside Gränna. Sahlberg’s work aims to create the scientific foundation needed to extract these resources domestically while also developing new functional magnets.
Rather than forcing Swedish minerals to fit existing manufacturing formulas, the researchers want to design magnets whose chemical composition closely matches the materials naturally present in local deposits. This approach could reduce the amount of processing required and lower the environmental impact of both purification and manufacturing.
“Today, China basically has a world monopoly, but we not only have deposits but also good access to water and relatively cheap energy. There is also an interest in leading the green transition here in Sweden,” he continues.
Taking Inventory of Sweden’s Mineral Resources
The interdisciplinary effort is expected to continue for many years. One of the first priorities is to create a detailed picture of the rare earth minerals available across Sweden.
“It’s a bit like the TV show What’s in Your Fridge,” says Martin Sahlberg to illustrate the process.
“Historically, we have mined for a specific metal – iron, copper or maybe gold. We’re taking a broader approach here to find out what elements there are in the deposits and in what proportions. We make an inventory of ‘what’s in the fridge’ so that we can use all these elements in the most efficient way possible. We’re creating new ‘magnet recipes’ based on the elements we have available,” he explains.
Instead of targeting a single valuable metal, the researchers plan to examine the full mixture of elements inside each deposit. The goal is to use as much of that material as possible and develop magnet formulas tailored to the resources already available.
Building a Cleaner Path From Rock to Magnet
Materials theoretical physicists, geologists, and materials engineers are working together to identify the most sustainable route from raw mineral deposits to finished products. Their combined expertise will help evaluate every stage of the process, from understanding the geology to designing and manufacturing the magnets.
Sahlberg describes the effort as application-inspired basic research. Although the work focuses on fundamental scientific questions, it is closely connected to technologies that could become increasingly important for Sweden and the wider green economy.
“What we are doing is basic research but in an area that is technologically incredibly important.