Post by Trade facilitator on Mar 13, 2023 11:19:51 GMT 1
Rare Earth Minerals: The Metals For The Future And Emerging Technologies – Where Is Nigeria In The Equation?
A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes, in pegmatites associated with alkaline magmas and in or associated with carbonatite intrusives.
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 15 elements referred to as the lanthanide series in the periodic table of elements.
Why Are They Called Rare Earth Minerals or Metals?
They are called so because of their geochemical properties, rare earth elements are typically dispersed. This means they are not often found in concentrated enough clusters to make them viable to mine. It was the scarcity of these minerals that led to them being called Rare Earths.
What Are The 15 Rare Earth Minerals?
The group consists of yttrium and the 15 lanthanide elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).
Why Are Rare Earth Metals So Important?
Rare earth metals are components in many familiar technologies, including smartphones, LED lights, and hybrid cars. A few rare earth elements are used in oil refining and nuclear power; others are important for wind turbines and electric vehicles; and more specialized uses occur in medicine and manufacturing.
Common Properties Of The Rare Earth Minerals:
These common properties apply to both the lanthanides and actinides.
The rare earths are silver, silvery-white, or gray metals.
The metals have a high luster but tarnish readily in air.
The metals have high electrical conductivity.
The rare earths share many common properties. This makes them difficult to separate or even distinguish from each other.
There are very small differences in solubility and complex formation between the rare earths.
The rare earth metals naturally occur together in minerals (e.g., monazite is a mixed rare earth phosphate).
Rare earths are found with non-metals, usually in the 3+ oxidation state. There is little tendency to vary the valence. (Europium also has a valence of 2+ and cerium also a valence of 4+.)
Does Nigeria Have Rare Earth Metals?
Yes!
Nine rare earths have been determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in syenites and related granitic rocks from the Nigerian younger granite (Mesozoic) Province. The majority of the granites contain dispersed UNb and vein-controlled ZnSn mineralization.
Rare Minerals: Demand for Copper, Lithium, Others to Multiply 10 Times in 2040, Says Adegbite
The Nigerian Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilenka Adegbite, has disclosed that a World Bank estimation has shown that a multiple demand for battery storage minerals, primarily comprises copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, platinum group minerals, and to a lesser extent, aluminum, to grow 10 to 30 times by 2040.
The world financial body, he noted, also included chromium, graphite, manganese, rare earth elements and zinc, to the list following demand from electric vehicles and battery storage.
Disclosing this in Abuja, Adegbite said the growing demand is propelled by an increase relying on rare earth elements and critical minerals to support climate commitments.
According to the estimation, Adegbite said: “Electric vehicles and battery storage would account for about half of the energy minerals demand over the next two decades, spurred by the increasing demand for battery materials.”
The minister, who gave a keynote address at a maiden summit on Future Minerals in the country, noted that the historic event came at a time when there is a global focus on developing a low-carbon economy that would utilize the future minerals.
He said: “Already, many nations are aggressively initiating policies and strategic models to ensure the accelerated development of these critical energy minerals.
“Last month, the United States Senate passed an Act with incentives for developing critical minerals. Australia is also considering investment packages to stimulate exploration, mining, and processing of these minerals. In addition, China has stepped up imports from developing nations to bolster critical minerals stockpiles.
"The 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change emphasizes the need to decline the use of non-renewable components in energy generation. Renewable sources of energy provide an alternative to the energy transition economy.
“The consequence of this major shift is a high demand for critical minerals for use in climate-friendly technologies. The World Bank has estimated the demand for these minerals to triple by 2040. Undoubtedly, the deployment of critical minerals for a clean energy transition will remain significantly intensive for a long time.”
Adegbite further disclosed that Nigeria is richly endowed with critical minerals, stating that: “Lithium and tantalite are found in parts of the extensive pegmatite belts of Nigeria. Lithium is mined by artisanal miners in Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Cross River States. Tantalite, tin and nickel are found in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, and several other states. A large amount of rare earth minerals ore was discovered in pegmatite and granites in Nigeria. Graphite is also found in Kaduna State.”
Which Country Has The Most Rare Earth Metals?
China
Most of these reserves are located within China, estimated at some 44 million metric tons. After China, the major rare earth countries based on reserve volume are Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia. The United States also has significant reserves, estimated to amount to 1.8 million metric tons.
Addendum:
Our company is the foremost company in Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes, in pegmatites associated with alkaline magmas and in or associated with carbonatite intrusives.
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 15 elements referred to as the lanthanide series in the periodic table of elements.
Why Are They Called Rare Earth Minerals or Metals?
They are called so because of their geochemical properties, rare earth elements are typically dispersed. This means they are not often found in concentrated enough clusters to make them viable to mine. It was the scarcity of these minerals that led to them being called Rare Earths.
What Are The 15 Rare Earth Minerals?
The group consists of yttrium and the 15 lanthanide elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).
Why Are Rare Earth Metals So Important?
Rare earth metals are components in many familiar technologies, including smartphones, LED lights, and hybrid cars. A few rare earth elements are used in oil refining and nuclear power; others are important for wind turbines and electric vehicles; and more specialized uses occur in medicine and manufacturing.
Common Properties Of The Rare Earth Minerals:
These common properties apply to both the lanthanides and actinides.
The rare earths are silver, silvery-white, or gray metals.
The metals have a high luster but tarnish readily in air.
The metals have high electrical conductivity.
The rare earths share many common properties. This makes them difficult to separate or even distinguish from each other.
There are very small differences in solubility and complex formation between the rare earths.
The rare earth metals naturally occur together in minerals (e.g., monazite is a mixed rare earth phosphate).
Rare earths are found with non-metals, usually in the 3+ oxidation state. There is little tendency to vary the valence. (Europium also has a valence of 2+ and cerium also a valence of 4+.)
Does Nigeria Have Rare Earth Metals?
Yes!
Nine rare earths have been determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in syenites and related granitic rocks from the Nigerian younger granite (Mesozoic) Province. The majority of the granites contain dispersed UNb and vein-controlled ZnSn mineralization.
Rare Minerals: Demand for Copper, Lithium, Others to Multiply 10 Times in 2040, Says Adegbite
The Nigerian Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilenka Adegbite, has disclosed that a World Bank estimation has shown that a multiple demand for battery storage minerals, primarily comprises copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, platinum group minerals, and to a lesser extent, aluminum, to grow 10 to 30 times by 2040.
The world financial body, he noted, also included chromium, graphite, manganese, rare earth elements and zinc, to the list following demand from electric vehicles and battery storage.
Disclosing this in Abuja, Adegbite said the growing demand is propelled by an increase relying on rare earth elements and critical minerals to support climate commitments.
According to the estimation, Adegbite said: “Electric vehicles and battery storage would account for about half of the energy minerals demand over the next two decades, spurred by the increasing demand for battery materials.”
The minister, who gave a keynote address at a maiden summit on Future Minerals in the country, noted that the historic event came at a time when there is a global focus on developing a low-carbon economy that would utilize the future minerals.
He said: “Already, many nations are aggressively initiating policies and strategic models to ensure the accelerated development of these critical energy minerals.
“Last month, the United States Senate passed an Act with incentives for developing critical minerals. Australia is also considering investment packages to stimulate exploration, mining, and processing of these minerals. In addition, China has stepped up imports from developing nations to bolster critical minerals stockpiles.
"The 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change emphasizes the need to decline the use of non-renewable components in energy generation. Renewable sources of energy provide an alternative to the energy transition economy.
“The consequence of this major shift is a high demand for critical minerals for use in climate-friendly technologies. The World Bank has estimated the demand for these minerals to triple by 2040. Undoubtedly, the deployment of critical minerals for a clean energy transition will remain significantly intensive for a long time.”
Adegbite further disclosed that Nigeria is richly endowed with critical minerals, stating that: “Lithium and tantalite are found in parts of the extensive pegmatite belts of Nigeria. Lithium is mined by artisanal miners in Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Cross River States. Tantalite, tin and nickel are found in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, and several other states. A large amount of rare earth minerals ore was discovered in pegmatite and granites in Nigeria. Graphite is also found in Kaduna State.”
Which Country Has The Most Rare Earth Metals?
China
Most of these reserves are located within China, estimated at some 44 million metric tons. After China, the major rare earth countries based on reserve volume are Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia. The United States also has significant reserves, estimated to amount to 1.8 million metric tons.
Addendum:
Our company is the foremost company in Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
