Page 48 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

48 PRIMARY MATERIALS
LOCATION OF RARE EARTH DEPOSITS
The name “rare earth” is is a a a a a a a a a a a misnomer as there are are are are rare rare rare earth earth earth deposits all over the the globe Around 210 000 t t t t t t t t of rare rare rare earth earth earth elements were mined in in in in 201959 Production of of rare earths has has more than tripled in in in in the last 35 years and although China has has quotas for official production there are also producers operating illegally to satisfy demand China has invested heavily in in in in in in its rare earth market and and in in in in in in the the the the processing of these materials all the the the the way along the the the the value chain and and now dominates At present around 70% of neodymium is mined in in in in in China followed by 11% from the USA (Mountain Pass) 9% from from Australia (Mount Weld) and 6% from from Myanmar However the the vast majority of the the extracted material (produced worldwide) is processed in in in China China China China now produces around 92% of of the the world’s world’s rare rare earth earth alloys and 88% of of the the world’s world’s rare rare earth earth magnets The major non-Chinese refiner is based in in in in in Australia producing oxides from from Lynas Rare earths from from the Mount Weld mine via a a a a a a a a a !"#$%&p'(r)o*c+e&(s%s in-g )/p%l*a0nt at Kuantan Malaysia60 The main non-Chinese magnet producers are based in in in in Japan It is important to to understand that there are are rare earth resources in many regions of the the the globe which could provide a a a a a a a a supply to to the the the UK
if economic extraction can be developed (see figure 19) 39
40
31
4 38
6323435 41
15 933
36 37
42
2 3 10 1113 14
7 8 REE MINES
OTHER REE DEPOSITS/OCCURRENCES
1215 16 1718 19 2122 454475
23 20 24
68 76
46 47 6978
67 7977
ncyclopedia of Geology (2021)
The ore that is extracted from the ground contains a a a a a mixture of rare earth elements in different ratios Typically the ores are are rich in the light rare earths (e g g - lanthanum (La) cerium (Ce) and neodymium (Nd)) but lean in the heavy rare earths (e g - dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb)) This creates
what is often described as the the balance problem where the the largest downstream markets (ie - magnets) require more of the the elements that are less abundant in the the ore This presents a a a a a a a particular challenge for mining companies as only a a a a a a a proportion of of the rare earths are are profitable 60 71 72
43 707374
CARBONATITE- ASSOCIATED
ALKALINE IGNEOUS ROCK-ASSOCIATED
IRON-REE DEPOSITS
HYDROTHERMAL DEPOSITS
EXCLUSIVE ALKALINE SETTINGS
MARINE PLACERS
ALLUVIAL PLACERS
rvey (2011) PALEOPLACERS ION-ABSORPTION
CLAYS
ASH-FALL PLACERS
BY-PRODUCT OF TIN MINING
25 4866 49
80
27
30 29
55 56-59
62
61
50 54 51 53
52 64 65 39
Lovozero & Khibina complexes
40
Tomtor Russia
41
Gornoe Ozero Russia
Russia
Russia
42
Khamna Russia
Russia
43 Kizilcaoran Turkey
Turkey
44 Aksu Diamas Turkey
Turkey
45 Tamazeght complex Morocco
46 Bou Naga Mauritania
47 Nile Delta & Rosetta Egypt 48 Karonge (Gakara) Burundi 49
Mrima Kenya
50 Wigu Hill Tanzania
51 Kangankunde Malawi
Malawi
52 Songwe Hill Malawi
Malawi
53
Congolone Mozambique 54 Ambohimirahavavy Madagascar
84
81 87
82
26
28
63 85 86 88 83
90 89
Lugin Gol Mongolia
Bayan Obo China China Weishan China China Maoniuping/Dalucao China China China Miayoa China Xunwu/Longan China China Dong Pao Vietnam
Thai Thai Peninsula Thailand Perak Malaysia Eneabba Australia Australia Jangardup Australia Australia Australia Mount Weld Australia Australia Australia Brockman Australia Australia Australia Nolans Bore Australia Australia Australia Mary Kathleen Australia Australia Australia Olympic Dam Australia Australia Australia WIM 150 Australia Australia Australia Dubbo Zirconia Australia Australia Australia Fraser Island Australia Australia rom British Geological Su 1 Bokan Mountains USA 2 Alay Canada
3 Rock Canyon Creek Canada
Canada
Canada
4 Thor Lake Canada
Canada
5 Nikikkatch Canada
Canada
Canada
6 Hoidas Lake Lake Canada
Canada
Canada
7 Elliot Lake Lake Canada
Canada
Canada
8 Saint-Honoré Canada
Canada
Canada
9
Strange Lake Canada
Canada
10 Snowbird USA USA 11 North Fork USA USA USA 12 Lemhi Pass USA USA USA 13 Bald Mountain USA USA USA 14
Bear Lodge USA USA USA 15 Iron Hill USA USA 16 Wet Mountains USA USA USA 17 Pea Ridge USA USA USA 18 Hicks Dome USA USA USA 19 Carolina Placers USA USA 20 Green Cove Springs USA USA 21 Mountain Mountain Pass USA USA 22 Gallinas Mountains USA USA USA 23 Pajarito Mountain Mountain USA USA 24
Sierra de Tamaulipas Mexico 25 Morro Dos Seis Lagos Brazil Brazil 26
Catalão I Brazil Brazil 27
Araxá Brazil Brazil 28
Serra Verde Brazil Brazil Brazil 29
Pocos de de Caldas Brazil Brazil Brazil 30 Barra do Itapirapuã Brazil Brazil 31
Sarfartôq Greenland
Greenland
32 Motzfeldt Greenland
Greenland
Greenland
33
Llimaussauq Greenland
Greenland
34 Thor Lake Norway
35 Bastnäs Sweden
Sweden
36 Norra Kärr Sweden
Sweden
Sweden
37
Olserum Sweden
Sweden
38
Sokli Finland
55 Etanero Namimbia
Namimbia
56 Okoruso Namimbia
Namimbia
Namimbia
57 Eureka Namimbia
Namimbia
Namimbia
58 Kalkfeld Namimbia
Namimbia
Namimbia
59 Ondurakorume Namimbia
Namimbia
60 Steenkampskraall South
Africa
61
Zandkopsdrift South
Africa
Africa
62
Pilanesberg Alkaline
Complex South
South
Africa
Africa
63 Naboomspruit South
South
South
Africa
Africa
Africa
64 Phalabowra South
South
South
Africa
Africa
Africa
65 Richards Bay South
South
Africa
Africa
66 Chavara India
67 Amba Dongar India
India
India
68 Sarnu India
India
69 Orrisa India
India
70 Wajiertage China 71 Mushgai Khudag Mongolia
72
73 74
75
76
77
78
79 80
81 82
83
84
85 86 87
88 89
90 Figure 19: World deposits of of rare earth elements (recreated from the British Geological Survey 202149
Geological Resources | | Global Distribution | | Rare Earth Elements 685
SECONDARY DEPOSITS
DEPOSITS
PRIMARY DEPOSITS
DEPOSITS