Brazil shifts from asbestos to rare earths amid global mineral race
Minaçu, a Brazilian city built on asbestos mining, is betting its future on rare earth elements as global demand surges and geopolitical tensions strain China’s dominance over supply chains.
Isabel Seta reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Minaçu, once home to the Americas’ only asbestos mine, is now producing rare earth minerals critical for electric vehicles and wind turbines, aiming to become a key player outside Asia.
- Although the Serra Verde mine promises safer, water-based extraction, residents report environmental concerns including water pollution and cattle miscarriages, with little company response.
- Despite mining royalties, the city has seen persistent poverty, and past mining booms failed to deliver broad economic benefits, raising doubts about rare earths repeating the pattern.
Key quote:
“The fact that more than 20% of the population remains socially vulnerable shows that the profits from asbestos mining do not result in quality of life for the local population.”
— Ricardo Gonçalves, geography professor at the State University of Goiás
Why this matters:
Rare earth elements are essential for modern technology — from smartphones to renewable energy to missile systems — but their extraction is often dirty, dangerous, and politically fraught. China has long dominated this market, but tensions with the U.S. are prompting new investments in alternatives like Brazil, which holds the world’s second-largest reserves. Yet mining communities such as Minaçu face a dilemma: while rare earths promise economic renewal, they may repeat the extractive harm of asbestos, a mineral that killed thousands and left environmental scars. Without safeguards, Brazil risks trading one toxic legacy for another. As the energy transition accelerates, ensuring it doesn't replicate old injustices is a challenge for both health and the environment.
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