scholarly journals A review of the potential for rare-earth element resources from European red muds: examples from Seydişehir, Turkey and Parnassus-Giona, Greece

2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éimear A. Deady ◽  
Evangelos Mouchos ◽  
Kathryn Goodenough ◽  
Ben J. Williamson ◽  
Frances Wall
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Bayer Process ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Study Sites

AbstractRare-earth elements (REE) are viewed as 'critical metals' due to a complex array of production and political issues, most notably a near monopoly in supply from China. Red mud, the waste product of the Bayer process that produces alumina from bauxite, represents a potential secondary resource ofREE. Karst bauxite deposits represent the ideal source material forREE-enriched red mud as the conditions during formation of the bauxite allow for the retention ofREE. TheREEpass through the Bayer Process and are concentrated in the waste material. Millions of tonnes of red mud are currently stockpiled in onshore storage facilities across Europe, representing a potentialREEresource. Red mud from two case study sites, one in Greece and the other in Turkey, has been found to contain an average of ∼1000 ppm totalREE, with an enrichment of light over heavyREE. Although this is relatively low grade when compared with typical primaryREEdeposits (Mountain Pass and Mount Weld up to 80,000 ppm), it is of interest because of the large volumes available, the cost benefits of reprocessing waste, and the low proportion of contained radioactive elements. This work shows that ∼12,000 tonnes ofREEexist in red mud at the two case study areas alone, with much larger resources existing across Europe as a whole.

scholarly journals Rare Earth Elements and Other Critical Metals in Deep Seabed Mineral Deposits: Composition and Implications for Resource Potential

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Joon Pak ◽  
Inah Seo ◽  
Kyeong-Yong Lee ◽  
Kiseong Hyeong
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Rare Earth Oxide ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Ion Adsorption ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Deep Sea Sediment

The critical metal contents of four types of seabed mineral resources, including a deep-sea sediment deposit, are evaluated as potential rare earth element (REE) resources. The deep-sea resources have relatively low total rare earth oxide (TREO) contents, a narrow range of TREO grades (0.049–0.185%), and show characteristics that are consistent with those of land-based ion adsorption REE deposits. The relative REO distributions of the deep-seabed resources are also consistent with those of ion adsorption REE deposits on land. REEs that are not part of a crystal lattice of host minerals within deep-sea mineral deposits are favorable for mining, as there is no requirement for crushing and/or pulverizing during ore processing. Furthermore, low concentrations of Th and U reduce the risk of adverse environmental impacts. Despite the low TREO grades of the deep-seabed mineral deposits, a significant TREO yield from polymetallic nodules and REE-bearing deep-sea sediments from the Korean tenements has been estimated (1 Mt and 8 Mt, respectively). Compared with land-based REE deposits, deep-sea mineral deposits can be considered as low-grade mineral deposits with a large tonnage. The REEs and critical metals from deep-sea mineral deposits are important by-products and co-products of the main commodities (e.g., Co and Ni), and may increase the economic feasibility of their extraction.

scholarly journals REE Enrichment during Magmatic–Hydrothermal Processes in Carbonatite-Related REE Deposits: A Case Study of the Weishan REE Deposit, China

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-heng Jia ◽  
Yan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Scattered Electron ◽  
Ree Mineralization ◽  
Hydrothermal Processes ◽  
Informative Case ◽  
Main Factors

The Weishan carbonatite-related rare earth element (REE) deposit in China contains both high- and low-grade REE mineralization and is an informative case study for the investigation of magmatic–hydrothermal REE enrichment processes in such deposits. The main REE-bearing mineral is bastnäsite, with lesser parisite and monazite. REE mineralization occurred at a late stage of hydrothermal evolution and was followed by a sulfide stage. Barite, calcite, and strontianite appear homogeneous in back-scattered electron images and have high REE contents of 103–217, 146–13,120, and 194–16,412 ppm in their mineral lattices, respectively. Two enrichment processes were necessary for the formation of the Weishan deposit: Production of mineralized carbonatite and subsequent enrichment by magmatic–hydrothermal processes. The geological setting and petrographic characteristics of the Weishan deposit indicate that two main factors facilitated REE enrichment: (1) fractures that facilitated circulation of ore-forming fluids and provided space for REE precipitation and (2) high ore fluorite and barite contents resulting in high F− and SO42− concentrations in the ore-forming fluids that promoted REE transport and deposition.

scholarly journals Potential of garnet sand as an unconventional resource of the critical high-technology metals scandium and rare earth elements

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Klimpel ◽  
Michael Bau ◽  
Torsten Graupner
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Unconventional Resource ◽  
Disposal Cost ◽  
Industrial Waste Product

AbstractScandium is a critical raw material that is essential for the EU economy because of its potential application in enabling technologies such as fuel cells and lightweight materials. As there is currently no secure supply of Sc, several projects worldwide evaluate potential Sc sources. While elsewhere in Europe emphasis is placed upon secondary resources such as red mud, we investigated the potential of industrial garnet sand and its waste products. Since Sc readily substitutes for Mg and Fe in the crystal lattice of garnet, the garnet minerals almandine and pyrope, in particular, may show high Sc concentrations. Garnet sand, after being used as an abrasive in the cutting and sandblasting industry, is recycled several times before it is finally considered waste which eventually must be disposed of. Extraction of Sc (and rare earth elements, REE) from such garnet sand may generate added value and thereby reduce disposal cost. The studied garnet sands from different mines in Australia, India and the U.S., and industrial garnet sands commercially available in Germany from different suppliers show average Sc concentrations of 93.7 mg/kg and 90.7 mg/kg, respectively, i.e. similar to red mud. Our data also show that “fresh” and recycled garnet sands yield similar Sc concentrations. Within the framework of a minimum-waste approach, it may be feasible to utilize the industrial waste-product “garnet sand” as an unconventional source of Sc and REE, that reduces disposal cost.

DETERMINATION OF THE RARE EARTH METALS IN THE RED MUD FOR POSSIBLE UTILIZATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2001-2009
Author(s):  
Tatjana Juzsakova ◽  
Akos Redey ◽  
Le Phuoc Cuong ◽  
Zsofia Kovacs ◽  
Tamas Frater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Rare Earth Metals ◽  
The Rare Earth

China and the Geopolitics of Rare Earths

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Kalantzakos
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Trade Dispute ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Economic Statecraft ◽  
The Rare Earth

In 2010, because of a geopolitical incident between China and Japan, seventeen elements of the periodic table known as rare earths became notorious overnight. An “unofficial” and temporary embargo of rare-earth shipments to Japan alerted the world to China’s near monopoly position on the production and export of these indispensable elements for high-tech, defense, and renewable energy sources. A few months before the geopolitical confrontation, China had chosen to substantially cut export quotas of rare earths. Both events sent shockwaves across the markets, and rare-earth prices skyrocketed, prompting reactions from industrial nations and industry itself. The rare-earth crisis is not a simple trade dispute, however. It also raises questions about China’s use of economic statecraft and the impacts of growing resource competition. A detailed and nuanced examination of the rare-earth crisis provides a significant and distinctive case study of resource competition and its spill-over geopolitical effects. It sheds light on the formulation, deployment, longevity, effectiveness, and, perhaps, shortsightedness of policy responses by other industrial nations, while also providing an example of how China might choose to employ instruments of economic statecraft in its rise to superpower status.

scholarly journals Environmental Safety Analysis of Red Mud-Based Cemented Backfill on Groundwater

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8094
Author(s):  
Shuai Li ◽  
Yulin Zhang ◽  
Ru Feng ◽  
Haoxuan Yu ◽  
Jilong Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Heavy Metal Ions ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Cemented Backfill ◽  
Bleeding Water

As one of the main industrial solid wastes, there are a large number of free alkaloids, chemically bound alkaloids, fluoride, and heavy metal ions in Bayer process red mud (BRM), which are difficult to remove and easily pollute groundwater as a result of open storage. In order to realize the large-scale industrial application of BRM as a backfilling aggregate for underground mining and simultaneously avoid polluting groundwater, the material characteristics of BRM were analyzed through physical, mechanical, and chemical composition tests. The optimum cement–sand ratio and solid mass concentration of the backfilling were obtained based on several mixture proportion tests. According to the results of bleeding, soaking, and toxic leaching experiments, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used to evaluate the environmental impact of BRM on groundwater. The results show that chemically bound alkaloids that remained in BRM reacted with Ca2+ in PO 42.5 cement, slowed down the solidification speed, and reduced the early strength of red mud-based cemented backfill (RMCB). The hydration products in RMCB, such as AFT and C-S-H gel, had significant encapsulation, solidification, and precipitation inhibition effects on contaminants, which could reduce the contents of inorganic contaminants in soaking water by 26.8% to 93.8% and the leaching of toxic heavy metal ions by 57.1% to 73.3%. As shown by the results of the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, the degree of pollution of the RMCB in bleeding water belonged to a medium grade Ⅲ, while that in the soaking water belonged to a low grade II. The bleeding water was diluted by 50–100 times to reach grade I after flowing into the water sump and could be totally recycled for drilling and backfilling, thus causing negligible effects on the groundwater environment.

scholarly journals Territorial governance of managed retreat in Sweden: addressing challenges

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnel Göransson ◽  
Lisa Van Well ◽  
David Bendz ◽  
Per Danielsson ◽  
Jim Hedfors
Keyword(s):  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Governance Framework ◽  
Case Study Site ◽  
Feasible Option ◽  
Flexible Planning ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Inland Flooding

AbstractMany climate adaptation options currently being discussed in Sweden to meet the challenge of surging seas and inland flooding advocate holding the line through various hard and soft measures to stabilize the shoreline, while managed retreat is neither considered as feasible option nor has it been explicitly researched in Sweden. However, failure to consider future flooding from climate change in municipal planning may have dangerous and costly consequences when the water does come. We suggest that managed retreat practices are challenging in Sweden, not only due to public opinions but also because of a deficit of uptake of territorial knowledge by decision-makers and difficulties in realizing flexible planning options of the shoreline. A territorial governance framework was used as a heuristic to explore the challenges to managed retreat in four urban case studies (three municipalities and one county) representing different territorial, hydrological and oceanographic environments. This was done through a series of participatory stakeholder workshops. The analysis using a territorial governance framework based on dimensions of coordination, integration, mobilization, adaptation and realization presents variations in how managed retreat barriers and opportunities are perceived among case study sites, mainly due to the differing territorial or place-based challenges. The results also indicate common challenges regardless of the case study site, including coordination challenges and unclear responsibility, the need for integrated means of addressing goal conflicts and being able to adapt flexibly to existing regulations and plans. Yet rethinking how managed retreat could boost community resilience and help to implement long-term visions was seen as a way to deal with some of the territorial challenges.

Biotechnological trends and market impact on the recovery of rare earth elements from bauxite residue (red mud) – A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 105645
Author(s):  
Sandeep Panda ◽  
Rachel Biancalana Costa ◽  
Syed Sikandar Shah ◽  
Srabani Mishra ◽  
Denise Bevilaqua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Bauxite Residue ◽  
Market Impact

scholarly journals Distinct Roles of Acidophiles in Complete Oxidation of High-Sulfur Ferric Leach Product of Zinc Sulfide Concentrate

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Muravyov ◽  
Anna Panyushkina
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Zinc Sulfide ◽  
Elemental Sulfur ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Sulfide Concentrates ◽  
Sulfide Concentrate ◽  
Elemental Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Ferric Leaching

A two-step process, which involved ferric leaching with biologically generated solution and subsequent biooxidation with the microbial community, has been previously proposed for the processing of low-grade zinc sulfide concentrates. In this study, we carried out the process of complete biological oxidation of the product of ferric leaching of the zinc concentrate, which contained 9% of sphalerite, 5% of chalcopyrite, and 29.7% of elemental sulfur. After 21 days of biooxidation at 40 °C, sphalerite and chalcopyrite oxidation reached 99 and 69%, respectively, while the level of elemental sulfur oxidation was 97%. The biooxidation residue could be considered a waste product that is inert under aerobic conditions. The results of this study showed that zinc sulfide concentrate processing using a two-step treatment is efficient and promising. The microbial community, which developed during biooxidation, was dominated by Acidithiobacillus caldus, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, Ferroplasma acidiphilum, Sulfobacillus thermotolerans, S. thermosulfidooxidans, and Cuniculiplasma sp. At the same time, F. acidiphilum and A. caldus played crucial roles in the oxidation of sulfide minerals and elemental sulfur, respectively. The addition of L. ferriphilum to A. caldus during biooxidation of the ferric leach product proved to inhibit elemental sulfur oxidation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document