Concentrations Of Monazite Research Articles

Characterization of Rare Earths Obtained from Monazite Concentrate Processing and Their Application in Esterification for Biodiesel Production

Characterization of Rare Earths Obtained from Monazite Concentrate Processing and Their Application in Esterification for Biodiesel Production

Technology to Process Monazite Concentrate

Technology to Process Monazite Concentrate

Graphene Oxide Caged Biopolymer Nanocomposite for Purification of Rare Earth Elements from High Grade Egyptian Monazite Concentrate

Graphene Oxide Caged Biopolymer Nanocomposite for Purification of Rare Earth Elements from High Grade Egyptian Monazite Concentrate

Occurrence and environmental constraints of gray monazite in red soils from the Campo de Montiel area (SW Ciudad Real province, south central Spain).

Monazite ((Ce, La, Nd, Th) PO4) is a rare and strategic mineral that occurs naturally as an accessory and minor mineral in diverse igneous and metamorphic rocks. This mineral does not frequently form mineable ore deposits and it has different typologies, including those formed by endogenous processes (generally "yellow monazite" mineralizations) and those formed by exogenous processes ("gray monazite" mineralizations). The mineral is an important ore of Rare Earth Elements (REEs), which have been identified by the European Union as critical raw materials. Monazite can be considered a weathering-resistant mineral, and the mobility of the REE and associated elements is low. The study reported here concerns a mineralogical and geochemical assessment of the occurrence and risks associated with the presence of concentrations of monazite in a typical, well-developed, and representative red Mediterranean soil, in order to establish the associated risk with their future mining. The results confirmed that monazite ore is particularly poor in radioactive elements, and it is concentrated in the most surficial soil horizons. The chemical mobility of REEs present in the soil, as assessed by selective extraction with ammonium acetate in acidic media, follows the order Y > Dy > U > Tb > Gd > Eu > Sm > La > Th > Ce. The mobility of REEs contained in monazite proved to be higher than that of the REE compounds in the upper horizons of the soil profile suggesting the immobilization in other REE-containing minerals, while light REEs show lower mobility rates than heavy REEs, due to an immobilization of LREE by sorption with iron oxy-hydroxides. Further studies are required in order to obtain better speciation data for REEs in soilsaimed to identify soluble and insoluble compounds.

Optimal Monazite Concentration Processes for the Extraction of Uranium and Thorium Fuel Material

The optimal conditions for the nitric acid dissolution of precipitates of hydroxides and hydrated oxides of rare-earth elements, uranium, and thorium obtained after autoclave alkaline opening of samples of monazite concentrate have been determined. The distribution of radioactive impurities between the solid phase and the solution in the processes of alkaline opening, dephosphorization, and acid dissolution of the pulp was studied. Two options are proposed for the extraction of uranium and thorium in the presence of rare earth elements, followed by separation of the components using tributyl phosphate of various contents in the carbon diluent.

Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Malaysian Monazite Concentrate

Chemical and mineralogical characterization of Malaysian monazite, a phosphate mineral, bearing rare earth elements separated from the tin tailings originated from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, was performed in this paper. The study aims to collect detailed information on the chemical composition, crystal phases, and microstructure of the mineral monazite concentrate that would aid to optimize the subsequent hydrometallurgical processes for high-efficient separation of thorium and other associated rare earth elements. A systematic characterization study of the concentrate was conducted using techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These techniques analyzed the morphological details on the surface, elemental analysis, and mineral association assessment and identified the surface functionalization groups. The bulk composition and the mineral phases in which the elements are present were studied by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies respectively. The XRF analysis confirmed the presence of Ce, La, Nd, Pr, and Y (rare earth oxides: REO’s ~ 60 wt.%) while thorium dioxide (ThO2) accounted for 7 wt.% of the total composition. Traces of Ca, K, Al, Fe, Ti, and Mn were also confirmed by SEM elemental mapping. The XRD results confirmed that the concentrate was primarily composed of monazite (Ce, La, Nd, Th (PO4)) along with minor impurity phases of quartz. Automated mineralogical analysis was used as a confirmatory tool to corroborate the preliminary evidences. Based on the particle size distribution analysis supported by SEM, the majority of monazite grains were found to be present in the size range of 170–210 μm. Strong bands of PO4 and SiO4 were observed in the IR spectra corresponding to the phospho-silicate matrix of the REE mineral.

Characterization of Malaysian Monazite Concentrate for The Recovery of Thorium Dioxide

Malaysia has many potential mineral resources including some heavy and light rare earth element (HREE and LREE’s) minerals, such as Monazite and Xenotime. Their occurrence is in association with ores containing phosphates and oxides of Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd) and Thorium (Th). Mineralogical characterization of Malaysian Monazite concentrate for the recovery of Thorium dioxide (ThO2) has been carried out in this study. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Analyser (EDX) was used to assess the morphology and elemental composition of the mineral. The latter analysis showed that EDX surface analysis detected P-Kα Th-Mα, La-Lα, Ce-Lα and Nd-Lα as the major elements. The SEM micrographs with the EDX analysis revealed the morphological characteristics of Monazite which showed angled and irregular structures with dark coloured patches of Al, Si and Mn based inclusions. XRF analysis confirmed the presence of Th (8.52 wt.%) and U (0.25 wt.%). XRF also showed that the major rare earth elements (REE) of interest (> 5 wt.%) such as Ce, Nd and La were abundant in the mineral. XRD analysis identified LaPO4, CePO4 and NdPO4 as the major phases. Thorium phosphate (Th4(PO4)4) phase was not detected via XRD due to stronger X-ray reflection from the rare earth phosphates. The information collected from this study will help in developing a suitable process of treatment for the local Monazite, thereby facilitating the mineral to be used a domestic source of Th and other associated REE’s.

REE and Y Mineralogy of the Krudum Granite Body (Saxothuringian Zone)

The Krudum granite body comprises highly fractionated granitic rocks ranging from medium-F biotite granites to high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites. This unique assemblage is an ideal site to continue recent efforts in petrology to characterize the role of zircon, monazite, and xenotime as hosts to rare earth elements (REEs). The granitic rocks of the Krudum body analyzed in this study were found to contain variable concentrations of monazite and zircon, while xenotime was only found in the high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites and in the alkali-feldspar syenites of the Vysoký Kámen stock. Intermediate trends between cheralite and huttonite substitutions are characteristic for analyzed monazite grains from all magmatic suites. The highest concentration of cheralite was found in monazite from the alkali-feldspar syenites (up to 69.3 mol %). The proportion of YPO4 in analyzed xenotime grains ranges from 71 to 84 mol %. Xenotime grains are commonly enriched in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs; 9.3–19.5 wt % HREE2O3) and thorite-coffinite and cheralite exchange was observed. Some xenotime analyses return low totals, suggesting their hydration during post-magmatic alterations. Analyzed zircon from granite suites of the Krudum granite body contains moderate Hf concentrations (1.0–4.7 wt % HfO2; 0.010–0.047 apfu Hf). The highest concentrations of HfO2 were found in zircon from the high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites (1.2–4.7 wt % HfO2). Analyzed zircon grains from the high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites and alkali-feldspar syenites are enriched in P (up to 8.29 wt % P2O5; 0.24 apfu P), Al (0.02–2.0 wt % Al2O3; 0.00–0.08 apfu Al), Ca (up to 3.9 wt % CaO; 0.14 apfu Ca), Y (up to 5.5 wt % Y2O3; 0.10 apfu Y), and Sc (up to 1.17 wt % Sc2O3; 0.03 apfu Sc). Zircon grains from the high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites were sometimes hydrated and fluorized. The concentrations of F in zircon from partly greisenised high-F, high-P2O5 Li-mica granites reached up to 1.2 wt % (0.26 apfu F).

Rare earth mineral potential in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain from integrated geophysical, geochemical, and geological approaches

We combined geophysical, geochemical, mineralogical, and geological data to evaluate the regional presence of rare earth element (REE)−bearing minerals in heavy mineral sand deposits of the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain. We also analyzed regional differences in these data to determine probable sedimentary provenance. Analyses of heavy mineral separates covering the region show strong correlations between thorium, monazite, and xenotime, suggesting that radiometric equivalent thorium (eTh) can be used as a geophysical proxy for those REE-bearing minerals. Airborne radiometric data collected during the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) program cover the southeastern United States with line spacing varying from ∼2 to 10 km. These data show eTh highs over Cretaceous and Tertiary Coastal Plain sediments from the Cape Fear arch in North Carolina to eastern Alabama; these highs decrease with distance from the Piedmont. Quaternary sediments along the modern coasts show weaker eTh anomalies, except near coast-parallel ridges from South Carolina to northern Florida. Prominent eTh anomalies are also observed over large riverbeds and their floodplains, even north of the Cape Fear arch where surrounding areas are relatively low. These variations were verified using ground geophysical measurements and sample analyses, indicating that radiometric methods are a useful exploration tool at varying scales. Further analyses of heavy mineral separates showed regional differences, not only in concentrations of monazite, but also of rutile and staurolite, and in magnetic susceptibility. The combined properties suggest the presence of subregions where heavy mineral sediments are primarily sourced from high-grade metamorphic, low-grade metamorphic, or igneous terrains, or where they represent a mixing of these sources. Comparisons between interpreted sources of heavy mineral sands near the Fall Line and igneous and metamorphic Piedmont and Blue Ridge units showed a strong correspondence with rocks closest to the Fall Line and poor correspondence with rocks farther inland. This strongly suggests that the primary source of those heavy minerals, especially monazite, is the rocks that formed the rocky coast that was present during opening of the Atlantic Ocean, which in turn indicates the importance of coastal processes in forming heavy mineral sand concentrations. Furthermore, narrow radiometric eTh and K anomalies are associated with major rivers, indicating limited spatial influence of fluvial processes. Later coastal plain sediment deposition appears to have involved reworking of sediments, providing an “inheritance” of the rocky coast composition that persists for some distance from the Fall Line. However, this inheritance is reduced with distance, and sediments within ∼100 km of the coast in Georgia and Florida exhibit properties indicative of mixing from multiple sources.

Supercritical fluid extraction of rare earth elements, thorium and uranium from monazite concentrate and phosphogypsum using carbon dioxide containing tributyl phosphate and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid

Supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) using carbon dioxide containing tributyl phosphate (TBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and their adducts with HNO3 is applied for extraction of rare earth elements (REE), thorium (Th) and uranium (U) from monazite concentrate (MC) and phosphogypsum (PG). REE extraction from MC and their separation from Th and U are carried out from the product of MC–Na2CO3 baking (MCS), which is obtained under microwave irradiation, after which the phosphates of REE, Th and U present in the MC are converted into their oxides. Up to 50% of REE can be recovered as the adducts of TBP and D2EHPA with HNO3 from the resulting powdered MCS under SCFE conditions, whereas Th and U remain in the solid phase. After a complete dissolution of the MCS residue in the mixture of 4 M HCl and 0.05 M HF, Th and U are quantitatively extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) containing D2EHPA and thus separated from the REE that remain in an acidic solution. The conditions of quantitative isolation of REE, Th and U from PG are determined. The schemes for complex processing of MC and PG aimed at REE recovery and their separation from Th and U are suggested.

Recovery of rare earth elements, uranium, and thorium from monazite concentrate by supercritical fluid extraction

Quantitative recovery of rare earth elements (REEs), Th, and U by supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) with carbon dioxide containing adducts of TBP and HDEHP with HNO3 directly from monazite concentrate (MC) powder is impossible and requires the conversion of the constituent elements into more soluble compounds. Microwave (MW) radiation can be efficiently used for MC pretreatment by sintering with Na2CO3 in the presence of coal. The resulting product consists of two phases. One of them contains REEs (∼50%) recoverable by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) containing adducts of TBP or HDEHP with HNO3. The second phase is a solid solution of CeO2 with Th and U oxides and remaining amount of REEs. It is resistant to SCFE. Conditions were determined for quantitative dissolution of this phase in a mixture of 4 M HCl with 0.05 M HF. The use of HDEHP under the SCFE conditions allows quantitative recovery of Th and U from the hydrochloric acid solution. In the process, REEs remain in the aqueous phase and are thus separated from Th and U. A possible flowsheet was suggested for the recovery REEs from MC using SCFE with their simultaneous separation from Th and U.

Chemical U-Th-Pb dating of monazite by 3D-Micro X-ray fluorescence analysis with synchrotron radiation

A confocal set-up for three-dimensional (3D) micro X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) was used at the mySpot beamline at BESSY II, which allows compositional depth profiling for various applications. We present results obtained with a confocal 3D micro-XRF set-up for chemical age dating using the U, Th and Pb concentrations of monazite within rock thin sections. The probing volume was determined to be approximately 21 × 21 × 24 μm 3 for W- L α using an excitation energy of 19 keV. The relative detection limits particularly for Pb are below 10 ppm (for counting times of 1000 s). Therefore, this 3D micro-XRF set-up is suitable for dating of minerals with low Pb concentrations as long as all Pb is radiogenic, allowing spatial resolution comparable to ion microprobe or laser ablation techniques. The set-up was tested on monazites that are well characterized by isotopic techniques and have a wide range of ages, varying from 20 Ma to 1.82 Ga. Reference materials (GM3, F6, 3345) can be reproduced within error. The spread in the ages of all points determined by 3D micro-XRF is within 8 % of the isotopic reference value. The average 3D micro-XRF dates reproduce the reference ages with discrepancies between 10 and 13 Ma which translate to deviations of 1–4 %. Younger monazite samples from the European Alps (Baceno2, Bi9801) show slightly older 3D micro-XRF dates than those determined by isotopic techniques and table-top micro-XRF on whole grains. We interpret this to be related to age heterogeneities smaller than the spatial resolution and/or contributions by common Pb, which is a limitation for this technique. The method was then applied to monazites of unknown age from sapphirine-bearing granulites originating from the Gruf Complex (Alps, N-Italy). The 3D micro-XRF mean date was determined as 33 ± 4.4 Ma (2 σ) and was verified by ID-TIMS techniques. This age can be reliably interpreted as the age of the high-temperature (H T ) event because the monazites are included in and intergrown with H T minerals (sapphirine, high-Al orthopyroxene).

AN AEROMAGNETIC AND AERORADIOACTIVITY SURVEY OF LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA

A 140,000 km aeromagnetic and total‐count gamma radiometric survey was made over Liberia in 1967–68 along north‐south lines spaced 0.8 km over land and 4 km over the continental shelf. The data approximately delineate the boundary between the Liberian (ca. 2700 m.y.) age province in the northwestern two‐thirds of the country, and the Pan‐African (ca. 550 m.y.) age province in the coastal area of the northwestern two‐thirds of the country, as well as a boundary marking the northwest extent of the isoclinally folded paragneisses and migmatites deformed within the Eburnean (ca. 2000 m.y.) age province in the southeast one‐third. A zone of diabase dikes about 90 km inland can be traced, parallel to the coast from Sierra Leone to Ivory Coast on the basis of the magnetic data. Another zone of diabase dikes about 185 m.y. old is located along the coastal area and beneath the continental shelf parallel to the coast northwest of Greenville. Intrusion of these dikes probably coincides with the separation of Africa from North and South America. The magnetic data suggest basins of sedimentary rocks possibly 5 km thick on the continental shelf. The map indicates high‐amplitude magnetic anomalies greater than 600 gammas; some reach amplitudes as great as 18,000 gammas over iron formation and about 1800 gammas over mafic and ultramafic intrusive bodies. The radioactivity data have a background level less than 100 counts per second (cps) over mafic granulite‐facies rocks and unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks in the coastal area. Granitic rocks have the greatest variation. The central area of the country has the highest background radiation level with large areas above 250 cps; the level in the eastern one‐third of the country is low. These data are proving quite useful in reconnaissance geologic mapping. All anomalies over 500 cps are shown; some reach amplitudes over 750 cps. Total‐count radiation levels have a significant correlation with percent [Formula: see text] in bedrock analyses, but anomalous amounts of Th and U must be present to account for the highest amplitude anomalies. A few specific anomalies have been correlated with concentrations of monazite and zircon in bedrock as well as in beach deposits.