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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Utah Geological Association

Abstract


Anatomy of the Western Phosphate Field: A Guide to the Geologic Occurrence, Exploration Methods, Mining Engineering, Recovery Technology, Fifteenth Annual Field Conference, 1967
Pages 125-135

Rare Earths in Phosphorites—Geochemistry and Potential Recovery

Z. S. Altschuler, Sol Berman, Frank Cuttitta

Abstract

Rare earths are only trace constituents of marine apatite, but as millions of tons of such apatite are dissolved annually to make phosphoric acid, an opportunity exists for greatly increasing rare-earth output as a byproduct of fertilizer production. New, quantitative analyses of rare earths in representative apatite concentrates reveal that the potential for byproduct rare earths equals current production. The rare-earth assemblage in marine apatite is unusual, showing depletion in cerium and relative enrichment in the heavier lanthanons, a favorable distribution for rare-earth technology and utilization. Uranium, thorium, and scandium may also be recoverable from phosphoric acid.


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