European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2015, Apr 2015
Rare earth elements (REE) are considered to be highly "critical" by the European Commission [1], ... more Rare earth elements (REE) are considered to be highly "critical" by the European Commission [1], owing to the concentration of global supply and their use in a wide range of emerging technologies (e.g. smart phones, electric cars and wind turbines). The main source of REE is the mineral bastnäsite, which is primarily extracted from carbonatites. Alternative resources of REE have been identified in a variety of other environments such as alluvial placers, bauxites and ore tailings. The EURARE project (www.eurare.eu), funded by the European Commission, aims to improve understanding of potential REE resources in Europe with the overall objective of establishing the basis for a European REE industry. As a part of this project, alternative sources of rare earth elements in Europe are being considered.
Europe consists of a broad range of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, in varying tecto... more Europe consists of a broad range of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, in varying tectonic settings and geological ages, hosting an essential number of Rare Earth Element (REE) mineral occurrences. These can basically be divided in two broad categories: i) primary deposits associated with igneous and hydrothermal processes (e.g. carbonatites and/or syenitic rocks, REEs associated with iron oxide and hydrothermal mineralizations); and ii) secondary deposits concentrated from primary sources by sedimentary processes and weathering (e.g. alluvial and fluvial placers, palaeoplacers, lateritic deposits, and ion-adsorption clays). Historically, the Nordic countries and specifically Sweden is known as the first place that the REEs have been discovered. The element cerium (Ce) and other light REE (LREE) were discovered in minerals from the Bastnäs mines, and yttrium and a number of heavy REE (HREE) were discovered in Ytterby, both in central Sweden. The Nordic part of the Fennosca...
ERES2014: 1st European Rare Earth Resources Conference, Sep 2014
Karst-bauxite deposits form as a result of the accumulation of residual clay minerals in depressi... more Karst-bauxite deposits form as a result of the accumulation of residual clay minerals in depressions on a karst limestone surface, and their subsequent lateritic weathering. Rare earth elements (REE) become concentrated in the bauxite deposits due to crystallisation of authigenic REE-bearing minerals, accumulation of residual phases and the adsorption of ions on clays and other mineral surfaces. REE are concentrated in the red mud waste generated by alumina production from bauxite through the Bayer process. Red muds thus contain on average 900 ppm REE compared with typical values of <100 ppm to ~500 ppm REE in the bauxites. Extraction of REE from red mud has been shown to be feasible although it is challenging due to the heterogeneous spatial distribution of REE in the bauxites and the need for development of appropriate processing methods. With annual European extraction of bauxite estimated to be approximately 3.5 million tonnes per annum, resulting in approximately 1.4 million tonnes of red mud from the production of alumina, understanding the REE resource potential of bauxites is integral to the assessment of European REE resources.
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2015, Apr 2015
Rare earth elements (REE) are considered to be highly "critical" by the European Commission [1], ... more Rare earth elements (REE) are considered to be highly "critical" by the European Commission [1], owing to the concentration of global supply and their use in a wide range of emerging technologies (e.g. smart phones, electric cars and wind turbines). The main source of REE is the mineral bastnäsite, which is primarily extracted from carbonatites. Alternative resources of REE have been identified in a variety of other environments such as alluvial placers, bauxites and ore tailings. The EURARE project (www.eurare.eu), funded by the European Commission, aims to improve understanding of potential REE resources in Europe with the overall objective of establishing the basis for a European REE industry. As a part of this project, alternative sources of rare earth elements in Europe are being considered.
Europe consists of a broad range of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, in varying tecto... more Europe consists of a broad range of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, in varying tectonic settings and geological ages, hosting an essential number of Rare Earth Element (REE) mineral occurrences. These can basically be divided in two broad categories: i) primary deposits associated with igneous and hydrothermal processes (e.g. carbonatites and/or syenitic rocks, REEs associated with iron oxide and hydrothermal mineralizations); and ii) secondary deposits concentrated from primary sources by sedimentary processes and weathering (e.g. alluvial and fluvial placers, palaeoplacers, lateritic deposits, and ion-adsorption clays). Historically, the Nordic countries and specifically Sweden is known as the first place that the REEs have been discovered. The element cerium (Ce) and other light REE (LREE) were discovered in minerals from the Bastnäs mines, and yttrium and a number of heavy REE (HREE) were discovered in Ytterby, both in central Sweden. The Nordic part of the Fennosca...
ERES2014: 1st European Rare Earth Resources Conference, Sep 2014
Karst-bauxite deposits form as a result of the accumulation of residual clay minerals in depressi... more Karst-bauxite deposits form as a result of the accumulation of residual clay minerals in depressions on a karst limestone surface, and their subsequent lateritic weathering. Rare earth elements (REE) become concentrated in the bauxite deposits due to crystallisation of authigenic REE-bearing minerals, accumulation of residual phases and the adsorption of ions on clays and other mineral surfaces. REE are concentrated in the red mud waste generated by alumina production from bauxite through the Bayer process. Red muds thus contain on average 900 ppm REE compared with typical values of <100 ppm to ~500 ppm REE in the bauxites. Extraction of REE from red mud has been shown to be feasible although it is challenging due to the heterogeneous spatial distribution of REE in the bauxites and the need for development of appropriate processing methods. With annual European extraction of bauxite estimated to be approximately 3.5 million tonnes per annum, resulting in approximately 1.4 million tonnes of red mud from the production of alumina, understanding the REE resource potential of bauxites is integral to the assessment of European REE resources.
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