New rare earth source spotted
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Extinct volcanoes could be the new frontier for sourcing rare earth elements.
Research from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reveals that iron-rich magma found in extinct volcanoes may offer a fresh way to access these critical metals.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to various technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and wind turbines.
With demand projected to increase fivefold by 2030, researchers are looking to alternative sources, given the challenging extraction processes of current supplies.
Dr Michael Anenburg from ANU says that iron-rich magma within extinct volcanoes is up to 100 times more efficient at concentrating rare earths compared to the magma from active volcanoes.
“We have never seen an iron-rich magma erupt from an active volcano, but we know some extinct volcanoes, which are millions of years old, had this enigmatic type of eruption,” he said.
Examples include El Laco in Chile, where further exploration could uncover valuable deposits.
The team simulated volcanic conditions by melting rock samples akin to those found in these extinct formations.
The experiments revealed high concentrations of rare earths in the iron-rich rocks.
Despite their name, rare earth elements are not truly rare; they are as common as lead or copper. However, Dr Anenburg pointed out that extracting them remains costly and complex.
“Breaking down and extracting these metals from the minerals they reside in is challenging and expensive,” he said.
China holds the largest deposits, with significant sources in Sweden and Australia, including Mount Weld in Western Australia and sites near Dubbo and Alice Springs.
Dr Anenburg sees potential for Australia to become a “major player in the clean energy space” through its abundant reserves.
The research, led by Shengchao Yan from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters.