Abstract
The peraluminous rhyolite that forms Round Top Mountain (approximately 375 m high × nearly 2 km in diameter), near Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, west Texas, USA, is enriched in yttrium and heavy rare earth elements (YHREEs), as well as Li, Be, U, Th, Sn, F, Rb, Cs, Nb, and Ta. Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (USA) proposes to release the YHREEs from their unique yttrofluorite host via heap leaching with dilute sulfuric acid. The inexpensive process also releases portions of valuable byproduct Be, Li, and U from accessory minerals amid the insoluble feldspars and quartz that comprise 90% - 95% of the surface-exposed rhyolite mountain. The objective of this study is to determine the consistency of mineralization grade, an important consideration in mine planning and preliminary economic analysis. The method is to plot elemental analyses of Y, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, U, and Nb from more than 1400 reverse circulation cuttings taken from 64 exploration drill holes against sample depth. The result of inspection of the plots reveals a remarkably homogeneous distribution of minor and trace elements throughout the sampled portion of the massive, 1.6-billion-tonne laccolith. The plots drive the conclusion that Round Top mine feedstock should remain constant for the life of the mine (multiple decades). Thus mining mechanics could be optimized at the start of operations and not require expensive later changes. The physical and chemical design of the heap leach and recovery and purification of target elements from pregnant leach solution also could be perfected during early development.
Highlights
The rare earth elements (REEs) are non-replaceable ingredients in many current and emerging critical technologies including lasers, high-strength permanent magnets, optical fibers, catalysts, fuel cells, high-strength alloys, specialty glass, opto-electronics, and so forth
Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (USA) proposes to release the yttrium and heavy rare earth elements (YHREEs) from their unique yttrofluorite host via heap leaching with dilute sulfuric acid
The method is to plot elemental analyses of Y, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, U, and Nb from more than 1400 reverse circulation cuttings taken from 64 exploration drill holes against sample depth
Summary
The rare earth elements (REEs) are non-replaceable ingredients in many current and emerging critical technologies including lasers, high-strength permanent magnets, optical fibers, catalysts, fuel cells, high-strength alloys, specialty glass, opto-electronics, and so forth. Most are won from the ion adsorption clays of south China, with minor amounts from the other four of the “big five” REE deposit types: bastnaesite, monazite, xenotime, and apatite ores. These five provide virtually all, more than 95%, of global REE extraction supply [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
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