Race for rare earths at Myanmar’s borders fuels pollution fears

A race to dig rare earths and metals in the mineral-rich mountains of eastern Myanmar is polluting waterways that millions of people living downstream depend on after a new tungsten mine reportedly began operations near the Thai border, according to Environmental Groups.Myanmar is among the top three producing nations of rare earths and other critical minerals used to make magnets and other components that power products ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles, with most of its output exported to neighbouring China, where it is refined.rare earths and metals such as tin, copper and tungsten are buried in remote hills of Shan State, an area where control is split between Myanmar’s junta, powerful ethnic armed groups and warlords who dominate the so-called Golden Triangle, where the country’s borders are shared with China, Laos and Thailand.