Article
Environmental Studies
Mara Madaleno, Dilvin Taskin, Eyup Dogan, Panayiotis Tzeremes
Summary: This study aims to explore the relationship between rare earth minerals, clean energy, renewable energy technologies, and carbon emissions. The results show that the spillovers among these variables depend on market conditions, time horizons, and analyzed quantiles. The findings highlight the role of rare earth minerals in the short term and provide insights for investors and policymakers.
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Sabrina Hedrich, Anja Breuker, Mirko Martin, Axel Schippers
Summary: Sands from the German Baltic Sea coast are recovered as construction material and contain heavy minerals enriched with zircon, garnet, ilmenite, rutile, magnetite, and monazite. Gravity and magnetic separation can be used to concentrate the heavy minerals. Bioleaching experiments were conducted on zircon concentrates and eudialyte concentrates containing rare earth elements (REE), but the results showed limitations in the extraction of REEs from heavy minerals through bioleaching.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
G. A. Murad, G. A. Dakroury, E. M. Abu Elgoud
Summary: This study describes the development of a novel nano gel (CMC-St/Al2O3) for purifying rare earth elements (REEs) minerals from Fe(III) contaminants. The CMC-St/Al2O3 nano gel showed efficient adsorption of Fe(III) and successful separation of Fe(III) from the REEs.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Cho-Yin Wu, Franz Zehetner, Zueng-Sang Chen, Shih-Hao Jien, Zeng-Yei Hseu
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in soils at different elevations in the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan and its relationship with climatic changes. The results showed that REE content decreased with increasing elevation and rainfall. Clay content was correlated with REEs, with heavy REEs preferentially sequestered by the soil. These findings suggest a relationship between soil development and REE fractionation.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiao Ge, Ming Xie, Gang Chen, Semali Perera, Chunli Zheng, Manhong Huang
Summary: Rare earth extraction wastewater (REEW) was treated using the combined chemical precipitation and direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process to recover valuable minerals such as magnesium. The study found that adjusting the pH of the solution resulted in 99.7% of Mg2+ in REEW being precipitated as Mg(OH)2, which could then be calcined to obtain MgO. The performance of DCMD was affected by gypsum, but membrane fouling was effectively mitigated by removing Ca2+. Na2SO4 was successfully recovered via freeze crystallization. The combined process allowed for the successful recovery of MgO, Na2SO4, and water from REEW, with industrial-grade purity.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
XueFeng She, Huai Zhang, ZhenLong An, JingSong Wang, QingGuo Xue
Summary: The study found that an increasing La2O3 content decreases the polymerization degree of RE slag, leading to the appearance of additional crystal phases, reduced crystallization temperature, and enhanced crystallization of the RE phase.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jose D. Gutierrez-Cano, Jose M. Catala-Civera, Angel M. Lopez-Buendia, Pedro J. Plaza-Gonzalez, Felipe L. Penaranda-Foix
Summary: This paper describes a near-field scanning microwave microscope for non-invasive measurement of permittivity maps of rock specimens. The accuracy of this approach was validated by comparison study with reference materials, showing excellent agreements.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruiqian Wang, Long Chen, Jianguo Zhi, Xintong Lian, Liya Guo, Han Dong
Summary: The effects of different contents of rare earth elements Ce and La on the corrosion behavior of weathering steel Q355NHq were studied. Results showed that steels containing 170 ppm rare earth elements had the lowest corrosion rates and had inclusions with high content of rare earth elements. Compared with steels containing no more than 90 ppm rare earth elements, steels containing 170 ppm rare earth elements had more compact rust layers with high amounts of α-FeOOH and low amounts of γ-FeOOH.
Article
Geology
Arianne Ford, David Huston, Jonathan Cloutier, Michael Doublier, Anthony Schofield, Yanbo Cheng, Eloise Beyer
Summary: The production of rare earth elements is crucial for transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Carbonatites are a significant source of rare earth elements, both in Australia and globally. This study developed a mineral system model to assess the potential for carbonatite-related rare earth element mineralization in Australia. By utilizing national-scale datasets and a mineral systems-based approach, the study successfully generated national-scale mineral potential maps, reducing the exploration search space for rare earth element mineral systems. The assessment also identified high potential in regions of Australia with no previously known carbonatites or rare earth element deposits.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Behzad Vaziri Hassas, Mohammad Rezaee, Sarma Pisupati
Summary: Studies have shown that by adjusting the pH of the solution and adding specific chemicals during AMD treatment, efficient precipitation and recovery of rare earth elements and other elements can be achieved, improving the sustainability of the treatment process. Additionally, research on the impact of different ions and ligands has revealed that the recovery of most REEs can be achieved under specific conditions.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sophia Bauer, Jonathan Yang, Mengling Stuckman, Circe Verba
Summary: Rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals (CMs) are increasingly used in various modern industries. Optimizing extraction techniques and understanding the distribution of REEs in different solid fractions can stabilize the unpredictable supply chain. The co-extraction of critical metals during the extraction process is observed. The mobility of major cations and REEs is associated with specific fractions, while non-extractable REEs are likely held in refractory apatitic phases or primary REE-phosphates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Weiwei Wang, Zhangkuang Peng, Chunlei Guo, Qiang Li, Yanjiang Liu, Shaochun Hou, Hailong Jin
Summary: The aim of this study was to characterize the riebeckite type rare earth ore found in the Bayan Obo deposit and identify the distribution and occurrence of rare earths and gangue species within the ore. The analysis revealed that the primary rare earth minerals in the ore were bastnaesite and monazite, with huanghoite, parisite, aeschynite, and fergusonite identified as secondary rare earth minerals. The ore was rich in rare earth oxides with a 3.81 wt % grade, and potential methods for recovering rare earths from this ore have been identified.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Nina Rethfeldt, Pia Brinkmann, Daniel Riebe, Toralf Beitz, Nicole Koellner, Uwe Altenberger, Hans-Gerd Loehmannsroeben
Summary: The study used laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to analyze rock and soil samples from three European REE deposits in Sweden and Norway, focusing on cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and yttrium. Univariate regression and principal component analysis were used to determine the origin of the samples, while multivariate regression methods were found to be better suited for determining REE contents in field samples with matrix effects.
Article
Energy & Fuels
James C. Hower, Cortland F. Eble, Michelle N. Johnston, Leslie F. Ruppert, Shelley D. Hopps, Tonya D. Morgan
Summary: The Leatherwood coal in eastern Kentucky is an important energy resource in the region. The coal sample contains elements such as Ge and Ga, which are enriched near the adjacent rocks. Arsenic and other chalcophile elements are concentrated at the top and bottom of the seam profiles. Manganese enrichment is found in bright lithologies at one site. The coal samples have a light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, while the basal lithotype has a heavy rare earth element (HREE) enrichment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Weilong Yang, Yi Zhou, Chaozhu Li
Summary: In the past decades, rare earth mines have been recklessly exploited, leading to devastating ecological damage. However, under strict regulation and governance, the exploitation has gradually recovered in recent years. Accurate assessment of ecological environment quality in rare earth management areas is crucial for regional development planning, ecological protection, and sustainability. The Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) is widely used for its objectivity and instant results, making it an effective tool in evaluating ecological environment quality.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
M. R. Lepage, L. Vinnett, C. O. Gomez, O. Liboiron-Ladouceur, K. E. Waters
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Christopher Marion, Ronghao Li, Kristian E. Waters
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
L. Vinnett, C. Marion, T. Grammatikopoulos, K. E. Waters
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
M. R. Lepage, L. Visconti, O. Liboiron-Ladouceur, K. E. Waters
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
R. Li, C. Marion, E. R. L. Espiritu, R. Multani, Xiaoqi Sun, K. E. Waters
Summary: A study evaluated an ionic liquid as a collector in bastnasite flotation, showing higher collectability for hematite than bastnasite. A two-stage flotation scheme was designed for better separation, achieving over 90% bastnasite recovery with a maximum upgrade ratio of 1.7.
JOURNAL OF RARE EARTHS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Luis Vinnett, Kristian E. Waters
Article
Engineering, Chemical
L. Vinnett, J. Yianatos, L. Arismendi, K. E. Waters
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sungjae Moon, Frank Rosenblum, Yuehua Tan, Kristian E. Waters, James A. Finch
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mark R. Lepage, Cesar O. Gomez, Kristian E. Waters
Summary: The metallurgical performance of a flotation machine is greatly influenced by phenomena occurring in the froth zone. This study focuses on measuring the water content in the froth zone as an indicator for efficient operation. The results show that frother concentration has a stronger impact on the top-of-froth water content compared to gas flow rate.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Pengbo Chu, Ronghao Li, Mark Lepage, Kristian Waters
Summary: This study focuses on the impact of electrolytes on bubble break-up, revealing that an increase in electrolyte concentration results in larger bubbles produced through break-up, contrary to common observations. Additionally, it is found that electrolytes affect bubble break-up by altering the capillary wave on the bubble surface, different from the mechanism of surfactants.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Tiantian Yin, Kristian E. Waters, Philippe Ouzilleau, Md Towhidul Islam, Ifty Ahmed, Showan N. Nazhat
Summary: This study applied DVS with in-situ Raman spectroscopy to investigate the effect of sodium content on the aqueous reactivity of binary SBGs. It found that the glass characteristics and the threshold for sorption and crystallization varied with increasing sodium content. The study also revealed a correlation between vapor- and water-induced reactions in SBGs.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Dzmitry Pashkevich, Ronghao Li, Ozan Kokkilic, Kristian Edmund Waters
Summary: Temperature variations can have significant impacts on flotation performance, leading to operational and economic challenges. Improving flotation efficiency at cold temperatures is crucial for the sustainable development of the mining industry, especially as mining operations expand to northern regions and face the increasing influence of climate change-induced weather extremes. Through mono-mineral flotation tests, it was found that sulfide minerals exhibit similar patterns of recovery kinetics at different temperature conditions, with higher recovery and slower kinetics at lower temperatures and lower recoveries and faster kinetics at higher temperatures. The observed variations in foam height and stability at different temperatures also contribute to these findings.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Chaozhen Zheng, Kaixi Jiang, Zhanmin Cao, Derek O. Northwood, Kristian E. Waters, Haibei Wang, Sanping Liu, Kun'e Zhu, Hao Ma
Summary: This study investigated the behavior of copper-cobalt oxide ores under various conditions such as particle size, acidity, pulp density, temperature, leaching time, and reduction potential. XRD, optical microscopy, and ICP-OES methods were used to examine the samples. Copper and cobalt recovery reached high percentages with appropriate conditions, and the remaining metals were found in sulfide forms coated with calcium sulfate. A combination of flotation and agitation leaching further improved the metal recovery.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Meng Zhou, Ozan Kokkilic, Darryel Boucher, Mark Lepage, Thomas W. Leadbeater, Raymond Langlois, Kristian E. Waters
Summary: Developing dry separation methods, such as gas-solid fluidized beds, is crucial to replace water-based separation due to increasing water shortages. This study investigates particle motion in a fluidized bed using positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) technique, providing knowledge about separation mechanisms through direct visualization of the particle trajectory. The movements of different-sized beds are characterized by tracking single quartz and hematite particles, determining the separation behavior of heavy particles for different-sized fractions.
Article
Crystallography
Sofi Buzukashvili, Weiqing Hu, Roberto Sommerville, Oliver Brooks, Ozan Kokkilic, Neil A. Rowson, Philippe Ouzilleau, Kristian E. Waters
Summary: Zeolites are widely used in various applications, such as wastewater treatment for heavy metal removal. However, separating small-sized zeolite particles from treated water is often difficult. In this study, a new method using a colloidal polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution to bind iron oxide nanoparticles to Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite was used to synthesize magnetic zeolite. Different ratios of zeolite to iron oxide nanoparticles were tested for Cu removal in batch adsorption experiments. The results showed that the magnetic zeolite maintained its adsorption properties and simplified the process design. Magnetic separation was then used to remove the magnetic zeolite from the treated solution.
