scholarly journals Automated SEM Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA) with Generically Labelled EDX Spectra in the Mineral Processing of Rare Earth Element Ores

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Schulz ◽  
Gerhard Merker ◽  
Jens Gutzmer
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Recovery Curves ◽  
Mineral Liberation ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Liberation Analysis ◽  
Automated Scanning ◽  
Considerable Complexity

Many rare earth element (REE) deposits have experienced multistage geological enrichment processes resulting in REE bearing mineral assemblages of considerable complexity and variability. Automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM) mineral liberation analysis of such REE ores is confronted by the difficult assignment of energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra to REE mineral names. To overcome and bypass this problem, a generic and reliable labelling of EDX reference spectra obtained from REE-bearing minerals based on their contents of Si, Ca, F and P in a bulk normalised analysis is proposed. The labelled spectra are then combined into groups of REE-P (~monazite), REE-Ca-Si-P (~britholite), REE-Ca-F (~synchysite) and REE-F (~bastnaesite, parisite, fluocerite). Mixed spectra with low counts for REE from minute REE mineral grains are combined into a separate group. This classification scheme is applied to automated SEM mineral liberation analysis (MLA) data from beneficiation products by comminution and multistage flotation of REE carbonatite ores. Mineral modes, mineral grain size distribution, mineral liberation, mineral locking and mineral grade versus recovery curves based on the analysis of >200,000 particles in a sample can be recognised and interpreted in virtual grain size fractions. The approach as proposed here will allow future process mineralogical studies of REE deposits to be robust and comparable.

Fractionation of rare-earth elements during magmatic differentiation and weathering of calc-alkaline granites in southern Myanmar

2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenzo Sanematsu ◽  
Terumi Ejima ◽  
Yoshiaki Kon ◽  
Takayuki Manaka ◽  
Khin Zaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Geochemical Characteristics ◽  
Magmatic Differentiation ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Weathering Resistance

AbstractGeochemical characteristics and rare-earth element (REE)-bearing minerals of calc-alkaline granites in southern Myanmar were investigated to identify the minerals controlling fractionation between light and heavyREE(LREE and HREE) during magmatic differentiation and weathering. The granites were classified on the basis of the mineral assemblages into two contrasting groups: allanite-(Ce)- and/or titanite-bearing granites; and more HREE-enriched granites characterized by hydrothermal minerals including synchysite(Y), parisite-(Ce), bastnäsite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y), monazite-(Ce), Y-Ca silicate, waimirite-(Y) and fluorite. This suggests that allanite-(Ce) and titanite are not stable in differentiated magma and HREE are eventually preferentially incorporated into the hydrothermal minerals. The occurrence of theREE-bearing minerals is constrained by the degree of magmatic differentiation and the boundary of two contrasting granite groups is indicated by SiO2contents of ∼74 wt.% or Rb/Sr ratios of ∼3–8. Fractionation between LREE and HREE during weathering of the granites is influenced by weathering resistance of theREE-bearing minerals, i.e. allanite-(Ce), titanite, theREEfluorocarbonates and waimirite-(Y) are probably more susceptible to weathering, whereas zircon, monazite-(Ce) and xenotime-(Y) are resistant to weathering. Ion-exchangeableREEin weathered granites tend to be depleted in HREE relative to the whole-rock compositions, suggesting that HREE are more strongly adsorbed on weathering products or that HREE remain in residual minerals.

Rare earth element distribution in a metasomatic zoned ultramafic pod from Fiskenaesset, West Greenland

1983 ◽  
Vol 47 (345) ◽  
pp. 547-553
Author(s):  
M. B. Fowler ◽  
C. T. Williams ◽  
P. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Element Distribution ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Diffusion Controlled ◽  
Rare Earth Element Distribution ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Marginal Zones

AbstractThe distribution of REE in a zoned ultramafic pod formed by incomplete re-equilibration of ultrabasic and quartzofeldspathic reactant compositions has been studied. Transport of the heavy REE (HREE) as well as the light REE (LREE) over several metres has occurred during the diffusion-controlled metasomatism of the protolith mineral assemblages. The largest resultant concentration range (Eu) exceeds two orders of magnitude. In general, REE abundances increase towards the marginal zones, and differences between the behaviour of LREE, middle REE (MREE) and HREE subgroups are observed. LREE are least mobile in the aqueous transporting medium. Complexing by carbonate ligands is probably not an important factor in this system, and the final REE distribution is thought to be governed largely by the crystal structure of the major zonal minerals.

The Characteristics of the Rare Earth Elements in the Surface Sediments on the Western South Yellow Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 427-430
Author(s):  
Zhen Ya Dou ◽  
Gang Xu ◽  
Jiao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
South Yellow Sea ◽  
Mean Grain Size ◽  
The Rare Earth

Analyses of Rare Earth Element were made for the 486 surface samples from the western South Yellow Sea in this paper. It was found that the grain size dominates the distribution of the elements. Their contents rise with the decrease of the mean grain size. Their contents was also effected by the minerals at certain stations. The parameters of the Rare Earth Element denote the surface sediments are mostly from Yellow River in the study area.

RARE EARTH ELEMENT AND THORIUM ASSAYING IN PARTS OF THE EAST COAST, INDIA

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayantani Ghosal ◽  
◽  
Sudha Agrahari ◽  
Debashish Sengupta
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
East Coast
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