Monazite – an untapped RARE-EARTH Source
The mineral monazite, a rare-earth-element phosphate, was the world’s original rare-earth source. In the 1950s, the bastnaesite deposit at Molycorp’s Mountain Pass mine was discovered in California and it became the leading rare-earth source. Today, monazite and bastnaesite account for about 95% (roughly evenly split between the two minerals) of the world’s rare-earth resources.
New rare-earth production from monazite can be developed quickly and inexpensively because monazite is a by-product of heavy-mineral-sands mines around the world. The huge heavy-mineral-sands industry provides the world’s main source of titanium and zirconium. Many of the mines maintain reserves in excess of one billion tonnes, which translates into 20 to 40 years of production. The by-product monazite from just one of these huge mines is capable of producing more rare-earths than Molycorp’s Mountain Pass mine.
Commercially Proven
The by-product monazite does not require exploration, proving of ore, mining or most milling processes. Monazite is a single mineral with proven metallurgical processes and has successfully produced commercial rare-earths in the past. No other rare-earth mineral, except bastnaesite, has such a record of commercial success. These huge cost-saving and time-saving attributes offer an ideal solution to critical rare-earth supply issues. |