SPECTRAL DETERMINATION OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN MINERALS AND ORES

A method of spectral determination for rare-eanth elements in minerals and ores is described. The spectral analysis of the concentrate is made after chemical separation of the total of the rare earths and extraction of cerium. The precision of the method is characterized by a mean error of approximately 20%. The spectrograph KSA-1 is used. The sample is exited by a-c arc burning in a CO/sub 2/ atmosphere. By the determination of the yttrium earths in some cerium minerals, the rare-earth elements are divided into two tractions by means of ion-exchange resin. The method has been tested on a great number of minerals; the results of the x jay, chromatographic, and spectral analysis are compared. (auth)