Extractive Metallurgy of the Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical materials in high-technology applications but the supply security of REEs is of major concern, the global supply chain currently being concentrated in limited areas such as China and Australia, The need to diversify the supply of these critical metals is crucial. 

The USA seems particularly concerned about supply and last month the US Geological Survey made $5M available to research critical minerals and rare earth elements found in mine waste, while other news last month suggests that Wyoming could be America’s answer to China’s lock on the market, with 2.34 billion metric tons of rare earth minerals found southwest of Wheatland by American Rare Earths Inc.

There are also significant opportunities for African countries as the African continent is endowed with some of the world’s largest REE deposits and the SAIMM's Southern African Rare Earths 2nd International Conference in Namibia in June seeks to explore the continent’s role in shaping the future of the REEs industry. 

Amanda will in Namibia, representing MEI, a media partner for the conference, and five months later MEI's Critical Minerals '24 in Cape Town will explore innovative methods and flowsheets for processing critical minerals, including REEs, from primary and secondary sources and by recycling, particularly from waste electrical and electronic equipment, the most challenging aspect in aiming for a circular economy.

The extractive metallurgy of rare earths is characterised by continual innovation, reflecting the growing applications for these critical materials in various high-tech industries. The evolution of extraction methods is driven not only by the need for efficiency but also by an increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability and geopolitical independence.

Historically, REE extraction has been a complex and environmentally intensive process. These elements are typically dispersed in low concentrations, necessitating large-scale open pit mining and extensive processing to extract them in usable forms. Commercial extraction is typically by chemical-intensive hydrometallurgical processes, posing significant environmental and technical challenges.

Much of the technology of the industry is hidden in China, the world leaders in rare earth extractive metallurgy. This leadership has developed from China rising to become the dominant supplier of rare earth raw materials from a variety of mines. Not only does China dominate the rare earth raw material supply but also the downstream processing of rare earths into a host of specialist chemical products.

Meeting rare earth demand necessitates a multi-pronged approach that encompasses not only the development of new extraction technologies but also the establishment of robust, sustainable, and geopolitically diverse supply chains. The ongoing innovation in REE extraction is a critical component of this endeavor, requiring collaborative efforts from researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure a sustainable and secure supply of these indispensable elements for the future

In an important keynote lecture at Critical Minerals '24, Damien Krebs, Principal Process Consultant with Primero, Australia will present an introduction to the extractive metallurgy of rare earths covering all major deposit types. The key rare earth bearing minerals will be presented and discussed from a metallurgical amenability point of view. The major processing steps will be covered in a sequential process showing the equipment and chemistry involved. 

It will be a broad presentation for a technical target audience to transfer some of the authors experience from his work in rare earths since 2010.

There is currently a call for abstracts for the conference, which immediately follows Process Mineralogy '24 at Cape Town's Vineyard Hotel, the deadline being the end of May.

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