Rare Earth Contents Of Selected Source Minerals

This table presents the percentage composition of total rare-earth oxides contained in various primary source minerals from selected global localities. Understanding the specific rare earth element (REE) distribution within these minerals is crucial for economic and industrial applications, as different REEs have unique properties that are essential in manufacturing high-tech devices, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems. The data helps identify which mineral sources are richest in particular REEs, guiding mining, processing, and supply chain decisions to meet global demand efficiently.

Analysis of the data reveals that bastnaesite from China’s Dechang, Sichuan, and Maoniuping, Sichuan, deposits contains high concentrations of light rare earth elements such as lanthanum (35.63% and 29.49%, respectively) and cerium (43.81% and 47.56%), with notable amounts of neodymium (13.06% and 15.18%) important for permanent magnets. The Mountain Pass deposit in California, USA, also shows a similar REE profile with 34% lanthanum and 48.8% cerium. Monazite from Australia’s Mount Weld Central has a balanced distribution with 23.88% lanthanum, 47.55% cerium, and 18.13% neodymium, while the rare-earth laterite deposits in Jiangxi, China, such as Xunwu and Xinfeng, stand out for their unusually high yttrium content (10.07% and 24.26%, respectively), a heavy rare earth element critical for specialized applications. Xenotime from Southeast Guangdong, China, is characterized by a dominant yttrium content of 59.3%, reflecting its importance as a heavy rare earth source. These variations underscore the strategic importance of diverse mineral sources to secure a stable and varied supply of rare earth elements globally.