KARAJ, Feb. 29 (MNA) � By unveiling seven rare-earth elements bars and pure powders at the National Research Center for Minerals in Alborz Province, Iran has now joined other countries in producing this kind of element.


Seven rare-earth elements bars including praseodymium(III) oxide, neodymium(III)�oxide, cerium(IV) oxide, yttrium(III) oxide, mischmetal, ferrotitanium and lanthanum oxide were unveiled at the National Research Center for Minerals in Alborz Province on Sunday, and in the presence of Vice-President for Science and Technology, Sorena Sattari, AEOI Head Ali Akbar Salehi, deputy minister for Industries, Mines and Trade as well as Alborz governor and a number of other local officials.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Sorena Sattari stressed the need for separating the country�s economy from oil and instead, developing knowledge-based projects, saying �today, wealth is generated through science and technology and our country with all its remarkable scientific potential can easily become independent of oil exports.�

Director General of National Research Center for Minerals, Ali Mollataheri, also speaking at the ceremony, said the country�s advancement in the field of rare-earth elements is considered as a modern achievement in the efficient management of the main elements as well as the basic resources for hi-tech industries.

Noting Iran has bypassed limits of hi-tech knowledge by obtaining the technology to produce rare-earth elements, Mollataheri said �studies on these research projects started a year ago by a research and expert team at the National Research Center for Minerals.�

He went on to add that the research itself begun six months ago with tremendous efforts of 30 scientists in various chemical fields.

By Mehr News Agency