Regolith-hosted Rare Earth Element Deposits
Regolith-hosted rare earth element deposits (also known as ion-adsorption deposits) are rare-earth element, rare-earth element (REE) ores in decomposed rocks that are formed by intense weathering of REE-rich parent rock, parental rocks (e.g. granite, tuff etc.) in Subtropics, subtropical areas. In these areas, rocks are intensely broken and decomposed. Then, REEs infiltrate downward with rain water and they are concentrated along a deeper weathered layer beneath the ground surface. Extraction technology of the deposits has been evolving over the last 50 years. In the past, REEs were primarily extracted in small amount as by-products in mines of other metals or Granitoid, granitic sands at the beach. However, in recent decades, the development of the high-tech industries (e.g. aerospace engineering, telecommunication etc.) leads to high demand for REEs. Hence, regolith-hosted rare earth element deposits were recognised and extraction technologies have been rapidly developed since the ...
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