Rare earth mineral
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A rare earth mineral is a mineral which contains one or more rare earth elements as major metal constituents. Yttrium is found in almost all rare earth minerals. Rare earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to per-alkaline igneous complexes, in pegmatites associated with alkaline magmas and in or associated with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Mantle derived carbonate melts also are carriers of the rare earths. Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism contain a variety of rare earth minerals.
The majority of rare earth minerals are mined in Asia, with China producing 93 percent of the world's supply, and more than 99 percent of the most valuable supply.[1]
The following includes the relatively common hydrothermal rare earth minerals and minerals which often contain significant rare earth substitution:
