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    Rare Earth Elements What Do We Know About Them?

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    John Oo
    Rare earth elements are composed of lanthanides and actinides found in nature. They are used in many applications including catalysts, magnets, batteries, and electronics. China currently produces most of the world's rare earth elements. Rare earth deposits are mined using open pit or underground methods then processed using techniques like flotation or leaching. Future rare earth mining projects are being explored globally, but mining carries environmental risks like water, air, and soil contamination that require further study.

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    Rare Earth Elements What Do We Know About Them?

    Uploaded by

    John Oo
    43 views10 pages
    Rare earth elements are composed of lanthanides and actinides found in nature. They are used in many applications including catalysts, magnets, batteries, and electronics. China currently produces most of the world's rare earth elements. Rare earth deposits are mined using open pit or underground methods then processed using techniques like flotation or leaching. Future rare earth mining projects are being explored globally, but mining carries environmental risks like water, air, and soil contamination that require further study.

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    Rare Earth Elements

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    Rare earth elements are composed of lanthanides and actinides found in nature. They are used in many applications including catalysts, magnets, batteries, and electronics. China currently produces most of the world's rare earth elements. Rare earth deposits are mined using open pit or underground methods then processed using techniques like flotation or leaching. Future rare earth mining projects are being explored globally, but mining carries environmental risks like water, air, and soil contamination that require further study.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    43 views10 pages

    Rare Earth Elements What Do We Know About Them?

    Uploaded by

    John Oo
    Rare earth elements are composed of lanthanides and actinides found in nature. They are used in many applications including catalysts, magnets, batteries, and electronics. China currently produces most of the world's rare earth elements. Rare earth deposits are mined using open pit or underground methods then processed using techniques like flotation or leaching. Future rare earth mining projects are being explored globally, but mining carries environmental risks like water, air, and soil contamination that require further study.

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    The document discusses what rare earth elements are, their common uses, where they are found and mined, and some of the environmental impacts of rare earth element mining.

    Rare earth elements are a group of metals that are used in many technologies. They are found in things like magnets, batteries, and screens. Some of their main uses include in catalysts, alloys, electronics, magnets, and phosphors.

    Rare earth elements are found in alkaline igneous rocks, pegmatites, and carbonatite intrusions. They are most commonly mined from deposits of bastnasite and monazite, typically using open pit mining. The largest reserves are found in China and the United States.

    Rare Earth Elements

    What do we know about them?


    Rare Earth Elements
    What Are They?

    – The 30 rare earth elements are composed of the


    lanthanide and actinide series.
    • One element of the lanthanide series and most of the
    elements in the actinide series are called trans-uranium,
    which means synthetic or man-made.
    – 17 common rare earth elements found in nature:
    cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium,
    holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium,
    praseodymium, samarium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium,
    yttrium, ferrocerium, monazite, bastnasite, mischmetal
    Rare Earth Elements
    Present and Future Uses
    • Estimated 2009 distribution of rare earths by end use, in decreasing order,
    was as follows (USGS 2011):
    – chemical catalysts, 22%;
    – metallurgical applications and alloys, 21%;
    – petroleum refining catalysts, 14%;
    – automotive catalytic converters, 13%;
    – glass polishing and ceramics, 9%;
    – rare-earth phosphors for computer monitors, lighting, radar, televisions, and x-ray-intensifying film,
    8%;
    – permanent magnets, 7%;
    – electronics, 3%;
    – and other, 3%.
    • The trend appears to be for a continued increase in the use of rare earths in
    many applications, especially automotive catalytic converters, permanent
    magnets, and rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles.
    Rare Earth Elements
    Occurrence
    – First discovered in the 19th Century in Sweden, they were believed to be some of the most
    uncommon elements.
    – Rare-earths have been found to be relatively abundant in the Earth's crust, but rarely
    concentrated.
    – High cost of extraction means that only deposits with high concentrations are likely to be
    developed.

    Rare earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous
    complexes, in pegmatites associated with alkaline magmas and in or associated with
    carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare earth
    elements within the alkaline complexes. Mantle derived carbonate melts also are
    carriers of the rare earths. Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism
    contain a variety of rare earth minerals.
    Rare Earth Elements
    Mine Production and Reserves
    Country/Region Mine Production Reserves

    2009 2010 Total

    United States — — 13,000,000

    Australia — — 1,600,000

    Brazil 550 550 48,000

    China 129,000 130,000 55,000,000

    Commonwealth of Independent States — — 19,000,000

    India 2,700 2,700 3,100,000

    Malaysia 350 350 30,000

    Other countries — — 22,000,000

    World total (rounded) 133,000 130,000 110,000,000

    USGS 2011
    Rare Earth Elements
    World Resources
    • Rare earths are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but discovered
    minable concentrations are less common than for most other ores.
    • U.S. and world resources are contained primarily in bastnäsite and
    monazite.
    • Bastnäsite deposits in China and the United States constitute the largest
    percentage of the world’s rare-earth economic resources, while monazite
    deposits in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
    Thailand, and the United States constitute the second largest segment.
    • Apatite, cheralite, eudialyte, loparite, phosphorites, rare-earth-bearing (ion
    adsorption) clays, secondary monazite, spent uranium solutions, and
    xenotime make up most of the remaining resources.
    • Undiscovered resources are thought to be very large relative to expected
    demand.
    • A very large resource enriched in heavy rare-earth elements is inferred for
    phosphorites of the Florida Phosphate District.
    USGS 2011
    Rare Earth Elements
    Future Mines
    • Exploration efforts to develop rare earths projects surged
    in 2010, and investment and interest increased
    dramatically.
    • Economic assessments continued in North America at
    Bear Lodge in Wyoming; Diamond Creek in Idaho; Elk
    Creek in Nebraska; Hoidas Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada;
    Lemhi Pass in Idaho-Montana; and Nechalacho (Thor
    Lake) in Northwest Territories, Canada.
    • Other economic assessments took place in other locations
    around the world, including Dubbo Zirconia in New South
    Wales, Australia; Kangankunde in Malawi; Mount Weld in
    Western Australia, Australia; and Nolans Project in
    Northern Territory, Australia.
    Rare Earth Elements
    Mining, Processing and Refining
    • Typically mined by bulk tonnage open pit methods
    – Higher grade deposits could be mined underground
    • Mineral processing typically done on-site using
    flotation and gravity processing
    – Other processes may also be applicable
    • Refining is most difficult/toxic step
    – acid or alkaline leach methods
    – Pyrometallurgy
    • Environmental Impacts
    – Typical to hardrock mining (water, air, soil contamination)
    – Strong association with deposit type (acid or alkaline)
    Rare Earth Elements
    Environmental Toxicity
    • Few toxicological data are available compared to
    other elements (e.g. lead, cadmium, chromium,
    mercury, nickel, zinc, arsenic, selenium) for
    either human or other ecological receptors
    • Some suggestion of chronic exposure impacts
    and strong suggestion of impacts when exposed
    to compounds (metallurgical and chemical,
    possible ecological)
    • Possible effects include:
    – lung disease, liver disease, eye and skin irritation,
    other effects
    Rare Earth Elements
    Conclusions
    • Rare Earth mining will increase but is likely to
    occur in only limited circumstances
    – High grade and high tech with large funding required
    – Sector is highly vulnerable to promotions and scams
    • In more suitable locations with good practices
    should be possible with minimal impacts
    – Potential opportunity to work with industry?
    – 100% from reprocessed tailings and waste rock?
    • Need more environmental data
    – Human health impacts (workforce and local residents)
    – Ecological impacts (aquatic life, wildlife, riparian)

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