High refractive contribution in optical glass
57LaLight rare earth
Rare-earth element 57
Lanthanum
Improves optical glass, catalytic systems and selected hydrogen-storage materials.
Rare Earth MatrixWhy it is used
The properties behind lanthanum applications.
Catalytic and hydrogen-absorption functionality
Typical applications
Where lanthanum is commonly used.
High-index camera and telescope lenses
Petroleum-refining catalysts
Nickel-metal hydride batteries
Applications refer to suitable rare-earth materials, compounds or produced isotopes—not raw mineral material. Product designs and formulations vary.
Connected technologies
What the element does inside a system.
Semiconductors and precision polishingOptical performance in selected high-index glasses→Optics and technical glassHigh refractive index in optical glass→Catalysis and emissions controlStability and performance in refining catalysts→Hydrogen, fuel cells and batteriesHydrogen-storage materials in selected battery alloys→
Route to use
A head assay is several steps from an industrial material.
- 01Mineral-bearing material
Geology and assays establish occurrence and distribution.
- 02Recovery and separation
Testwork must establish what can be mobilised, recovered and purified.
- 03Application-grade material
Oxides, metals, alloys or compounds must meet a controlled specification.
- 04Component or system
Manufacturers design the material into a qualified product.
Project reporting context
Part of the 17-element educational matrix.
Rare Earth Matrix
This profile explains the properties and common uses of lanthanum. It does not state that Magnes will recover, separate or sell the element from Minas Americas.
See the reporting definitions →Sources
Where the element and application information comes from.
Applications are representative rather than exhaustive. They describe industry uses of rare-earth materials, compounds or produced isotopes; they do not describe a product currently made by Magnes or establish that an element will be commercially recovered from Minas Americas.
- U.S. Geological Survey · Selected applications by element
- USGS · 2026 Rare Earths Mineral Commodity Summary
- USGS · 2026 Heavy Rare Earths summary · Scandium · Yttrium
- U.S. Department of Energy · Critical materials and applications
- International Energy Agency · Magnet rare earths and energy technologies
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory · Promethium context
- U.S. FDA · MRI and regulated contrast context · Lutetium-177 therapy context
- Magnes · Technical disclosure and claims boundary