Kazakh geologists have uncovered a major rare earth metal deposit with estimated resources exceeding 20 million metric tons, according to a report by Reuters citing the country’s Ministry of Industry and Construction.
The deposit—dubbed “Zhana Kazakhstan”—is located at depths of up to 300 meters and lies approximately 420 kilometers (261 miles) from the capital. Its discovery could significantly elevate Kazakhstan’s position in the global rare earths landscape.
According to the ministry’s statement on Telegram, the deposit contains valuable elements such as neodymium, cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium, with an average rare earth content of 700 grams per ton of ore.
If independently verified, the find would place Kazakhstan among the top three holders of rare earth metal reserves, trailing only China and Brazil. Currently, Kazakhstan does not appear in the U.S. Geological Survey’s global ranking of rare earth deposits.
While the ministry has not disclosed which companies may be involved in the development or when extraction might begin, the discovery aligns with rising global demand for rare earth elements—critical inputs for technologies ranging from electric vehicles and wind turbines to defense and advanced electronics.