Rare-Earth Elements Discovered Forming Minerals Within Living Plants

 Rare-Earth Elements Discovered Forming Minerals Within Living Plants

WRITTEN & DESIGNED BY VED KUMAR

In a groundbreaking discovery, a research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has for the first time observed rare-earth elements (REEs) undergoing biomineralization inside a living plant species. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The edible fern Blechnum orientale, previously known for its ability to accumulate elevated levels of rare-earth elements in its tissues, was discovered to host self-assembled nanoscale mineral phases of REEs, specifically crystallised as a type of monazite. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Traditionally, monazite and other rare-earth minerals form through high-temperature geological processes such as magmatic or hydrothermal activity. However, the CAS team found monazite-type crystals forming at ambient temperatures within the extracellular tissues of the fern—indicating a plant-driven biomineralization mechanism. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Researchers observed that REEs absorbed by the fern migrate to vascular bundles and epidermal regions, where they precipitate as nanoparticles and then crystallise into mineral phases. This natural detoxification mechanism effectively locks the elements into solid mineral form in situ. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The discovery opens promising pathways for phytomining — the use of hyper-accumulator plants to recover valuable metals from soils and mine tailings sustainably. By cultivating species like Blechnum orientale, it becomes feasible to both rehabilitate contaminated land and extract REEs in a cleaner, circular model. (China Internet Information Center)

Given the strategic importance of rare-earth elements for high-tech applications — including electronics, clean energy technologies and defence systems — the potential to produce REEs via biological routes could significantly reduce environmental impact and supply-chain risks. (South China Morning Post)

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, also invites a reevaluation of biomineralization in plants, hitherto largely associated with microorganisms and animals, and expands research horizons for hyper-accumulating plant species. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

As one of the lead authors put it: “We had underestimated the mineral-forming ability of plants until now.” The team believes that by exploring the nearly thousand known hyper-accumulator plants, scientists can identify new species capable of REE mineralisation and sustainable recovery. (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

With this innovation, the intersection of plant science, geology and materials technology gains a new frontier — one where plants themselves may help meet the world’s growing demand for critical minerals in an eco-friendly way.

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