Analysis on the distribution and exploitation of the main rare earth ore in the world

The United States Wangtingpasi rare earths (MountainPass)

Wangtingpa our (MountainPass) rare earth ore is located in California southwest Mojave desert edge, 1949 two prospecting the local ore as uranium samples sent to the U. S. geological survey to detect accidental discovery, then carry out large-scale geological survey and exploration, has proven the light rare earth deposit. The Fu of the rare earth deposit of carbonatite intrusive rocks, the ore is mainly composed of carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, phosphorus iron ore, ankerite), sulfate minerals, barite and celestite and bastnaesite and silicate minerals (quartz), containing rare earth mineral main bastnaesite. Mine currently holds 50 million tons of ore reserves, rare earth oxide average grade of 8% ~ 4 million 300 thousand, 9% tons of rare earth oxides. Mountain Pa S rare earth ore in 1952 mines production in the 20th century 60 ~ 80 time metaphase, the mine is the world rare earth market main suppliers, in 1990 the rare earth products accounted for 40% of the global market at that time. Later the development of large rare earth mines in China with the gradually reduce the supply, to 2002 completed last mining activities stop mining, but have been sold to the inventory of bastnasite and light rare earth oxides. The mine is also built with a complete set of rare earth mineral processing and separation plant, annual production capacity of 20000 tons of rare earth oxides. Separation plant in 1998 due to the wastewater treatment facilities do not meet production, but in 2007 the fourth quarter of rare earth separation plant and has been restarted, 2009 re select the refinery, sequestration of bastnaesite concentrate. Wangtingpasi mine had several owners, the mine owners of Murray Kepu mineral company.

The United States Beinuojie rare earths (BearLodge)

Benoj (BearLodge) of rare earth mine is located in the United States with the north section of Wyoming northeast northwest to Benoj hill. Beinuojie mountain is located in the near north to South East Falls Rockies alkaline volcanic rock belt is the important gold producing areas, at the beginning of the 20th century was regarded as a gold prospecting potential areas. The rare earth deposit was discovered in 1949, followed by the US Geological Survey in 1953. In 1972, the Val company (Duval) began in Beinuojie carry out exploration activities and exploration target is porphyry copper molybdenum deposit, but in the later found with economic value of the rare earth deposits. From 1987 to 1991, Hecla mining company (Hecla) in the exploration work in the area of the delineation of the 430 million tons of rare earth resources amount, the average grade 3.79% of rare earth (does not conform to the ni43-101 compliant). In 2003, the rare element resources company RareElementsResourcesLtd. through its subsidiary, acquired the 100% mineral rights, and in 2004 ~ 2008 carried out for the rare earth deposit exploration and metallurgical research and in April 2009 announced the accord with ni43-101 compliant reserves technical reports. Integrated in the area of rare earth mine exploration data, the 1.5%REO boundary grade, currently in the delineation of inferred resource of 980 million tons, the oxidation zone ore volume 456 million tons, transition zone and non oxidation with ore 526 million tons, rare earth oxide with an average grade of 4.1%, equivalent amount of rare earth metal 36.3 million tons. Beinuojie rare earth ore bodies occur in carbonate rock of veinlet group or carbonatite dykes and surface oxidation with thickness of about 90 to 180 meters, mainly by the weathering of containing iron and manganese oxides and rare earth oxides of rock composition and down to native containing rare earth carbonate rock, the main host of rare earth elements exist phosphor strontium chrome ore, fluorocarbon cerium and fluorophosphate PARISITE, minerals. REE in light rare earth based, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium five rare earth oxide accounted for about 98 percent of the total content of rare earth elements. Different with other rare earth deposit is due to containing rare earth carbonatite vein production in multi stage evolution of alkaline intrusive complex, so Fu around the rare earth deposits Beinuojie area of being a certain scale and economic significance, and alkaline rock related gold mineralization. At present, rare element resources companies are aiming at different types of ore to carry out the selection and metallurgical test.

Canada at Thor Lake rare earth mine (ThorLake)

At Thor Lake (ThorLake) ree deposit in Canada's Northwest Territory McKinsey mining area, within 5 km of Dasilewu lake to the east coast, from the northwest collar prefectures in Yellowknife, the capital city of 100 km. Initially, the geological survey of Canada in 1937 ~ 1938 in the area to carry out geological mapping. In 1976, Heywood Resources Inc. (HighwoodResourcesLtd.) in the area to carry out uranium exploration. It is found that the mass of rare metal and rare earth mineralization phenomenon, followed by intermittent mining companies to carry out exploration activities. In 2005, the Avalon rare metals company (AvalonRareElementsInc.) obtain childcare Lake rare earth a 100% interest in the project, the previous drilling samples of re sampling and analysis at the same time, 2007 ~ 2008 carried out a new round of exploration activities, and to carry out the small scale metallurgical test. At present, in Thor Lake rare earth project 42 square kilometers area has been delineated six rare and rare earth metal mining area, the enrichment of rare earths, yttrium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium and other metals. Among them, there are two mining areas with higher degree of exploration: Lake and T. Rare earth and rare metal ore body in the presence of the alkali syenite and granite secondary alteration zone and ore minerals are fergusonite, zircon, brown stone curtain, monazite and bastnasite and so on. 2008, Avalon Rare Elements Inc commissioned by the Wardrop engineering consulting company to Lake area of the exploration data are summarized and compiled in accordance with the NI43-101 standard resource assessment report. Released in March 2009 to estimate the report, with the 1.6%REO as the boundary grade, Lake area has a control + inferred level of resources of 65 million 210 thousand tons, the average grade of rare earth oxides 2.05%, equivalent to rare earth metals