Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Chinese researchers have developed a new, environmentally friendly method to extract caesium from brine. This breakthrough could significantly increase China's domestic supply of this rare and critical strategic resource. Caesium is essential for technologies such as satellite atomic clocks, missile thermal imaging sensors, and specialized glass. Currently, both China and the United States, the leading consumers of caesium, are heavily reliant on imports. Major commercial deposits of caesium are located in countries like Canada and Australia, as well as in Zimbabwe and Namibia. This new brine extraction technique offers a potential alternative to traditional ore-based mining.