Mineral Processing of Rare Earth Ores

Demand for rare earth metals is increasing day by day in various high-tech applications such as super magnets, fluid cracking catalysts, nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, and ordinance industries as well as in some defense applications. The rare earth metals are extracted from different REE-bearing minerals that occur in carbonatites, pegmatites, and placer deposits. About 95% of the world’s rare earth production comes from bastnaesite, monazite, and xenotime minerals. In many instances, rare earth minerals are found in association with various gangue minerals. The recovery of rare earth values from the lean-grade ores requires several stages of mineral beneficiation and hydrometallurgical unit operations. The mineral beneficiation techniques such as gravity concentration, magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, and flotation were employed for the recovery of rare earth minerals. The present chapter highlights the world distribution of rare earth deposits, occurrences, processing methodologies, and plant practices of few economic minerals.