Rare Earth Elements in the U.S. and the World - 2020

Rare Earth Deposits & Mining

Campbell and 3 co-authors contributed this presentation for the 2020 Virtual AAPG Conference. The senior author presented a summary version during the conference. (Abstract) for the Theme 9 Session of the Energy Minerals Division during the Conference (more).

Introduction by Lindsay Ross (here).

The Full Version of the REE presentation is available on the YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ZNFNm192I  
Supporting PDF with reference links: https://i2mconsultants.com/downloads/corp/REE-EMDPresentation8-31-20.pdf 

For post-production notes on the first version of this presentation, see the I2M News:
https://i2mconsultants.com/i2ms-chief-geologist-presentation-on-the-sources-of-rare-earth-elements-in-the-u-s-and-the-world/ 

Summary of Coverage:

Source of REEs:

• REE Distribution in universe and solar system, moon, meteorites, Earth’s crust, sea-floors, coal and lignite, and groundwater, 
• Mineralization processes on Earth, often associated with U and Th, 
• REE Deposits and Mines: China, U.S.(Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Alaska), Australia, Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia. 
• History of REE Development: REE offer special properties for industrial applications …. Expanding use. 
• New REE applications were developed by the academic-industrial Complex in U.S. and Overseas, 
•  Major worldwide research efforts began in early 2000s with explosion of technical papers after 2010 dealing with exploration projects, nature of REE in deposits in the U.S. and worldwide,
• REE demand, mining, and prices have increased (with some pullback) as China held back price-controlled REE supplies with the REE Price Boom of the 2010-2013.
• Other REE sources are being sought as coproducts of metalliferous mining, recycling of electronic waste, coal-lignite, waste ash, byproducts of phosphate mining, deep-sea nodules and mattes, but with some environmental concerns along supply chain.
• Competition in REE mining and processing depends ore grade of specific REE availability with REE demand expanding.
• Mine production only amounting to about 170,000 metric tons in 2018, but increased to 210,000 tons in 2019, (Rare Earth Oxides produced worldwide), and likely increase by 7% to 12% /yr in the future …. the current Pandemic notwithstanding. 

A 2010 View of REE Conditions: https://youtu.be/as7-8wLAtdA