SPECTRAL DETERMINATION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN ORE DEPOSITS

A method of spectral determination for rare earth elements in minerals and ores is described. The spectral analysis of the concentrate is made after chemical separation of the total rare earths and extraction of cerium. The precision is about 20%. The "KSA-1" spectrograph was used. The samples were excited by an a-c arc in CO/sub 2/. By determining the yttrium earths in some cerium minerals, the rare earth elements were divided into two fractions by ion- exchange resins. The method was tested on numerous minerals, and the results of x-ray, chromatographic, and spectral analyses were compared. (B.O.G.)