An examination of the widely varying range of rare-earth-element involvement on this planet. Areas covered include: use of chemical shifts in reagents of paramagnetic lanthanide complexes; the theory and application of the consequences of antenna-to-ion energy transfer and its relationship to supramolecular chemistry; the rationalization of crystal field parametrization; halide vapours and vapour complexes; and a review of the lanthanide composition of the oceans and the processes that control the lanthanide distribution. Particular attention is given to research on the hydrothermal vent systems.