Abstract
Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique was used to investigate the abundance and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in soil around Kaduna Refinery. The aim of the study is to assess the rare elements potential of Nigeria for economic exploitation. Five REEs (La, Dy, Eu, Yb, and Lu) were detected in varying concentrations ranging from a minimum of 0.6 µg/g (Lu) to a maximum of 249.0 µg/g (La). The elements existed with trends consistent with the natural pattern of REEs in soil, showing significant Eu and Dy anomalies which characterize upper plains and flood plains. The levels of REEs in soil in the study area were generally slightly above background levels, with minimal (La, Dy, and Eu), moderate (Yb), and significant (Lu) enrichments and trending: Lu ˃Yb ˃ Eu ˃ Dy ˃ La. The abundance of the REEs investigated cannot establish a potential of Nigeria for economic exploitation of the mineral, hence, rare earth project in the study area is not viable at the moment.
Highlights
Rare earth elements (REEs) are members of a group of elements with atomic numbers 57 – 71 (La – Lu on the periodic table)
The correlation between the soil texture and rare earth elements (REE) concentrations indicate that REEs tend to be hosted in the finer particles which is primarily attributed to the strong adsorption of REEs on minerals through hydroxyl-hydrated sites (Laveuf and Cornu, 2009)
Plots of (REE)cn values against their corresponding ionic radii showed patterns that were consistent with REE trends with clear europium anomaly (Onoja et al, 2018)
Summary
Rare earth elements (REEs) are members of a group of elements with atomic numbers 57 – 71 (La – Lu on the periodic table). REEs do not exist as independent elements in nature, rather, they are integral part of the host mineral’s chemistry This makes the extraction of REEs or their oxides a complex and difficult task. The issue of concern here is that REEs only exist in low density ores and hard to extract Despite this disadvantage, the quest to reduce greenhouse emission and obtain clean energy has driven a large number of investors into this promising industry. The quest to reduce greenhouse emission and obtain clean energy has driven a large number of investors into this promising industry It is on record (Chen, 2011; Charalampides et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2017) that several potential sources of supply of REEs are currently being explored, with Brazil even promising to surpass China and rank first in rare earth deposit.
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