Recovery of RARE Earth Minerals and Elements from Coal and Coal Byproducts

Recent studies have shown that rare earth and other critical elements exist in coal and coal byproducts at concentrations as high as 2000 ppm on an ash-basis. The rare earth elements have been found in mineral form as monazite, xenotime and bastnaesite and also as an element substitute in clay. An investigation has been conducted to evaluate the potential of concentrating the rare earth (RE) minerals using physical concentration technologies such as density-based separators, froth flotation and magnetic separators. Distribution of the RE minerals as a function of the physical properties varied significantly between coal sources. However, the results indicate the potential to achieve concentration to a level dependent on the source using physical concentration techniques