Metallothermic reduction or rare earth metals

In a metallothermic process for reducing rare earth metal salts to produce pure rare earth metals and metal alloys, e.g. neodymium or neodymium/iron alloy for use in manufacturing neodymium/boron/iron permanent magnets, including adding pure metallic iron, such as iron flake, to a mixture of metal salt, such as neodymium chloride, and a reducing metal source, such as calcium/magnesium alloy, heating in a crucible in a preheated high temperature furnace with stirring to a temperature of 900 degrees C. under a flow of argon, separating the metal from the salt formed, and purifying the metal via distillation.