Rare-earth mineral

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Rare-earth ore, shown with a United States penny for size comparison RareEarthOreUSGOV.jpg
Rare-earth ore, shown with a United States penny for size comparison

A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes in pegmatites. This would be associated with alkaline magmas or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Minerals are the solid composer of inorganic substances. [1] They are formed through the atomic movement of fluid which can be derived from evaporation, pressure or any physical change. [2] They are mostly determined through their atomic weight. [3] The minerals that are known as 'rare' earth minerals are considered rare due to their unique geochemical makeup and properties. [4] These substances are not normally found in mining affiliated clusters. [4] Thus an indication of these minerals being short in supply and allocated their title as 'rare' earth minerals. [4] Many of our rare-earth minerals include rare-earth elements which thus hold the same significant purpose of rare-earth minerals. [5] Earth's rare minerals have a wide range of purposes, including defense technologies and day-to-day uses. [6] This would be associated with alkaline magmas or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Mantle-derived carbonate melts are also carriers of the rare earths. Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism contain a variety of rare-earth minerals. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes in pegmatites.

Contents

The following includes the relatively common hydrothermal rare-earth minerals and minerals that often contain significant rare-earth substitution:

These elements belong to Group 17, a category known for their scarcity and many purposes. Group 17 elements, also referred to as Rare Earth Elements (REE), make up a significant portion of our rare earth minerals. These elements exhibit exceptional conductivity and magnetic properties, having diverse applications across various industries. The presence of these elements in rare earth minerals enhances their utility and is a contributor to the complexity of their formation. Halogens molecule.png
These elements belong to Group 17, a category known for their scarcity and many purposes. Group 17 elements, also referred to as Rare Earth Elements (REE), make up  a significant portion of our rare earth minerals. These elements exhibit exceptional conductivity and magnetic properties, having diverse applications across various industries. The presence of these elements in rare earth minerals enhances their utility and is a contributor to the complexity of their formation.

Categorized

This particular group of minerals contains elements that are considered rare in our planet's makeup. [9] To be classified as a rare earth mineral, a thorough examination of the element contained within it is mandatory. [9] If an element can be classified as a rare-earth element, it is more likely to be classified as a rare earth mineral. This information can be valuable in various settings, such as geological surveys and mineral resource assessments. [10] A rare earth element is categorized into sixteen metallic elements. [10] There are over 160 rare earth minerals and only four of these minerals are mined. [11] Most rare earth minerals occur in primary and secondary deposits. [12]

Primary and secondary deposits

Primary deposits contain hydrothermal and igneous processes while secondary deposits are sedimentary and weathering processes. [13] In the case of primary deposits, the minerals and metals are derived from a specific area, where the elements come together to form the deposit. [14] This location is also where the mineral is produced. [14] Derived elements move to a different location within secondary deposits where they undergo metamorphic or sedimentary processes, resulting in the formation of minerals. [15] Mining extractions can benefit from the mineral processing of elemental deposits. [16] Various methods, such as leaching and hydrothermal processes, can be employed to extract minerals. [17] Both primary and secondary deposits yield elements and minerals for mining purposes. [17] There are only four rare-earth minerals that are found in deposits that go through certain processes and require mining. [18]

Mined rare-earth minerals

Bastnäsite

Bastnäsite is a carbonate mineral, that is primarily mined for its many purposes. [19] Magnets made of bastnasite are used to create speakers, microphones, communication devices, and many other modern gadgets. [20] This mineral is rare because it contains a large number of rare elements. [21] This mineral can be classified as semi-soluble salt due to its limited solubility in water and capacity to form ionic bonds. [21] Bastnäsite deposits are found in China and the USA. [21]

Bastnasite is a mineral that originates from Madagascar. It is a dense mineral that contains three carbonate-fluoride atoms. The mineral typically has a warm yellow honey colour and forms luminous flattened crystals. Bastnasite-(Ce) crystal with inclusions.jpg
Bastnäsite is a mineral that originates from Madagascar. It is a dense mineral that contains three carbonate-fluoride atoms. The mineral typically has a warm yellow honey colour and forms luminous flattened crystals.

Laterite clays

Laterite is considered to be a soil type which holds a significant amount of aluminium and iron. [24] This soil type can form into clay, which holds many minerals within it. [24] The weathering of rocks under leaching and oxidation conditions results in the formation of this mineral soil, which simulates clay. [24] The minerals within this soil are goethite, lepidocrocite, and hematite. [24] In recognition of the weathering process that these minerals require, they are classified as rare earth minerals. [25] In addition to these rare minerals other elements are contained within this soil like substance such as iron and nickel. [26] Thus having a red colour like soil through the oxidation of these minerals. [26] Basalt is the source of laterite, which is a material that contains aluminum. [25] Its high aluminum content is the reason it is mined. [26] This clay-like dirt also makes a stable basis for construction since it solidifies into rock when exposed to air. [26] However, the low fertility of this soil makes it unsuitable for agricultural use. [26]

Monazite

Monazite is a waxy mineral that is formed through the crystallization of igneous rocks and the metamorphism of clastic sedimentary rocks. [27] This mineral is typically mined in placer deposits, with gold commonly found as a byproduct. [27] The rare earth element neodymium is found in monazite, making it a rare mineral. [27] Moreover, monazite contains many other rare metals such as cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, and samarium, making it a critical source of renewable energy. [28] Recycled magnets can also be derived from these minerals due to the metals they contain. [27] Monazite sand and deposits for mining are found in India, Brazil, and Australia. [29]

Loparite

Loparite is a mineral that contains three rare elements: titanium, niobium, and tantalum. [30] This is why it is often mined, as it is considered a rare-earth mineral. [30] The deposits for loparite can be found in Russia and Paraguay, although it is also present in other countries such as Canada, Norway, Greenland, and Brazil. [31] However, Russia remains the primary source for mining this mineral. [31] The significance of loparite lies in its unique properties, which make it useful for conductivity, aircraft assembly, and as a radioactive tracer. [30]

Rarest earth mineral

Kyawthuite is a rare earth mineral due to its unique formation process. [32] Unlike other minerals, it is created from a pegmatite deposit within an igneous rock. [33] Its deep red-brown colour and high density come from the crystal assemblages within it. [34] Its occurrence is very limited and the necessary pressure for formation is uncommon, making it quite scarce. The mineral contains lead, thallium, and oxygen that have undergone oxidation and is also composed of the rare metals bismuth and antimony. [33] Interestingly, the mineral is named after Dr. Kyaw Thu, a former geologist at the University of Yangon who discovered it. [33] It is found in the region of Myanmar Mogok. [35]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europium</span> Chemical element, symbol Eu and atomic number 63

Europium is a chemical element; it has symbol Eu and atomic number 63. Europium is a silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series that reacts readily with air to form a dark oxide coating. It is the most chemically reactive, least dense, and softest of the lanthanide elements. It is soft enough to be cut with a knife. Europium was isolated in 1901 and named after the continent of Europe. Europium usually assumes the oxidation state +3, like other members of the lanthanide series, but compounds having oxidation state +2 are also common. All europium compounds with oxidation state +2 are slightly reducing. Europium has no significant biological role and is relatively non-toxic compared to other heavy metals. Most applications of europium exploit the phosphorescence of europium compounds. Europium is one of the rarest of the rare-earth elements on Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ore</span> Rock with valuable metals, minerals and elements

Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals concentrated above background levels, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit. The grade of ore refers to the concentration of the desired material it contains. The value of the metals or minerals a rock contains must be weighed against the cost of extraction to determine whether it is of sufficiently high grade to be worth mining and is therefore considered an ore. A complex ore is one containing more than one valuable mineral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegmatite</span> Igneous rock with very large interlocked crystals

A pegmatite is an igneous rock showing a very coarse texture, with large interlocking crystals usually greater in size than 1 cm (0.4 in) and sometimes greater than 1 meter (3 ft). Most pegmatites are composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, having a similar silicic composition to granite. However, rarer intermediate composition and mafic pegmatites are known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rare-earth element</span> Any of the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium

The rare-earth elements (REE), also called the rare-earth metals or rare earths or, in context, rare-earth oxides, and sometimes the lanthanides, are a set of 17 nearly indistinguishable lustrous silvery-white soft heavy metals. Compounds containing rare earths have diverse applications in electrical and electronic components, lasers, glass, magnetic materials, and industrial processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbite</span> Mineral group

Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate, with a general chemical formula of (FeII,MnII)Nb2O6, is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster, a high density, and is a niobate of iron and manganese. Niobite has many applications in areospace, construction and the medical industry. Dating columbite minerals is primarily completed by uranium lead (U-Pb) dating which is a time-consuming process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monazite</span> Mineral containing rare-earth elements

Monazite is a primarily reddish-brown phosphate mineral that contains rare-earth elements. Due to variability in composition, monazite is considered a group of minerals. The most common species of the group is monazite-(Ce), that is, the cerium-dominant member of the group. It occurs usually in small isolated crystals. It has a hardness of 5.0 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness and is relatively dense, about 4.6 to 5.7 g/cm3. There are five different most common species of monazite, depending on the relative amounts of the rare earth elements in the mineral:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastnäsite</span> Family of minerals

The mineral bastnäsite (or bastnaesite) is one of a family of three carbonate-fluoride minerals, which includes bastnäsite-(Ce) with a formula of (Ce, La)CO3F, bastnäsite-(La) with a formula of (La, Ce)CO3F, and bastnäsite-(Y) with a formula of (Y, Ce)CO3F. Some of the bastnäsites contain OH− instead of F− and receive the name of hydroxylbastnasite. Most bastnäsite is bastnäsite-(Ce), and cerium is by far the most common of the rare earths in this class of minerals. Bastnäsite and the phosphate mineral monazite are the two largest sources of cerium and other rare-earth elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorite</span> Nesosilicate mineral

Thorite, (Th,U)SiO4, is a rare nesosilicate of thorium that crystallizes in the tetragonal system and is isomorphous with zircon and hafnon. It is the most common mineral of thorium and is nearly always strongly radioactive. Thorite was discovered in 1828 on the island of Løvøya, Norway, by the vicar and mineralogist, Hans Morten Thrane Esmark. First specimens of Thorite were sent to his father, Jens Esmark, who was a professor of mineralogy and geology. It was named in 1829 to reflect its thorium content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xenotime</span> Phosphate mineral

Xenotime is a rare-earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate (YPO4). It forms a solid solution series with chernovite-(Y) (YAsO4) and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic, as well as silicon dioxide and calcium. The rare-earth elements dysprosium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, as well as metal elements such as thorium and uranium (all replacing yttrium) are the expressive secondary components of xenotime. Due to uranium and thorium impurities, some xenotime specimens may be weakly to strongly radioactive. Lithiophyllite, monazite and purpurite are sometimes grouped with xenotime in the informal "anhydrous phosphates" group. Xenotime is used chiefly as a source of yttrium and heavy lanthanide metals (dysprosium, ytterbium, erbium and gadolinium). Occasionally, gemstones are also cut from the finest xenotime crystals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbonatite</span> Igneous rock with more than 50% carbonate minerals

Carbonatite is a type of intrusive or extrusive igneous rock defined by mineralogic composition consisting of greater than 50% carbonate minerals. Carbonatites may be confused with marble and may require geochemical verification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ore genesis</span> How the various types of mineral deposits form within the Earths crust

Various theories of ore genesis explain how the various types of mineral deposits form within Earth's crust. Ore-genesis theories vary depending on the mineral or commodity examined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayan Obo Mining District</span> District in Inner Mongolia, China

Bayan'obo Mining District, or Baiyun-Obo or Baiyun'ebo, is a mining district in the west of Inner Mongolia, China. It is under the administration of Baotou City, the downtown of which is more than 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igneous rock</span> Rock formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

Igneous rock, or magmatic rock, is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

The Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility, owned by MP Materials, is an open-pit mine of rare-earth elements on the south flank of the Clark Mountain Range in California, 53 miles (85 km) southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2020 the mine supplied 15.8% of the world's rare-earth production. It is the only rare-earth mining and processing facility in the United States.

Mars may contain ores that would be very useful to potential colonists. The abundance of volcanic features together with widespread cratering are strong evidence for a variety of ores. While nothing may be found on Mars that would justify the high cost of transport to Earth, the more ores that future colonists can obtain from Mars, the easier it would be to build colonies there.

Thor Lake is a deposit of rare metals located in the Blachford Lake intrusive complex. It is situated 5 km north of the Hearne Channel of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada, approximately 100 kilometers east-southeast of the capital city of Yellowknife. Geologically located on the Canadian Shield it is mostly composed of peralkaline syenite. The Blatchford Lake complex was created in the early Proterozoic, 2.14 Ga ago. The deposit is divided in several sub-structures. In a small zone at the northern edge of the syenite, the T-Zone, minerals like bastnäsite, phenakite and xenotime can be found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monazite geochronology</span> Dating technique to study geological history using nuclear decay of the mineral monazite

Monazite geochronology is a dating technique to study geological history using the mineral monazite. It is a powerful tool in studying the complex history of metamorphic rocks particularly, as well as igneous, sedimentary and hydrothermal rocks. The dating uses the radioactive processes in monazite as a clock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regolith-hosted rare earth element deposits</span>

Regolith-hosted rare earth element deposits are rare-earth element (REE) ores in decomposed rocks that are formed by intense weathering of REE-rich parental rocks in subtropical areas. In these areas, rocks are intensely broken and decomposed. Then, REEs infiltrate downward with rain water and they are concentrated along a deeper weathered layer beneath the ground surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquamarine (gem)</span> Variety of beryl

Aquamarine is a pale-blue to light-green variety of the beryl family, with its name relating to water and sea. The color of aquamarine can be changed by heat, with a goal to enhance its physical appearance. It is the birth stone of March.

References

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  20. ↑ "Article S1: A detailed description of the method in the main text". doi: 10.7717/peerj.9066/supp-12 .
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  35. ↑ Raynepublished, Elizabeth (2023-01-01). "What is the rarest mineral on Earth?". livescience.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.

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