Conveners
Thorium and rare-earth element-associated resources
- Bradley Van Gosen (U.S. Geological Survey)
- Roberto C. Villas-Bôas (CYTED / CETEM)
Dr
Fritz Barthel
(IAEA Consultant)
26/06/2014, 09:00
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
The average content of thorium in the upper crust of the earth reaches 6 to 10 g/t, about 3 to 4 times that of uranium. Thorium is widely distributed, however not as metal, but in mineral form as oxides, silicates, phosphates, and lesser in various other minerals.
Thorium deposits, in simplified form, are divided into four major types, which are: placers, carbonatite-hosted, vein-type and...
Mr
Bradley Van Gosen
(U.S. Geological Survey)
26/06/2014, 09:25
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
Intrusion-related deposits of rare earth elements (REEs) are typically enriched in thorium (Th). The REEs and Th are “incompatible elements”, so-named because they form high-charge ions that do not readily fit into common igneous minerals. They concentrate in differentiated magmas, such as melts that form alkaline intrusions and carbonatites, common hosts for REEs. Thus, high-grade Th deposits...
Prof.
Roberto VILLAS-BÔAS
(CYTED / CETEM)
26/06/2014, 09:50
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
President Eisenhouer´s speech "Atoms for Peace" established in 1953 the basis for peaceful power generation via nuclear reactors ,somewhat pursuing to "counterbalance" the moral effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki´s horrors. In his own words "...this greatest of destructive force can be developed into a great constructive force for the benefit of all mankind."
U based experimental power...
Mr
Damien Krebs
(Greenland Minerals and Energy)
26/06/2014, 10:15
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
Kvanefjeld is an emerging multi-element deposit hosted within marginal phases of the Ilimaussaq Intrusive Complex, located near the southwest tip of Greenland. The deposit is exposed at surface along a series of undulating bluffs on a broad peninsula surrounded by deepwater fjords that run directly out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Delineated resources to date include 956 million tonnes at 273 ppm...
Dr
Resat Uzmen
(AMR Metalurji Ltd.)
26/06/2014, 11:10
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
In the southern part of Turkey there is a complex minerals deposit which contains rare earth elements (REEs), Ti, Zr, U and thorium. Physical beneficiation operations and hydrometallurgical processes allow to the separation of U along with Zr and Ti. The obtained [REEs and Th] oxalate concentrate is submitted to metathesis in order to convert oxalates to their respective hydroxides. The...
Mr
James Kennedy
(ThREE Consulting LLC and The Thorium Energy Alliance)
26/06/2014, 11:35
Thorium and rare-earth element (REE)-associated resources
Oral
Rare earths and Thorium are linked at the mineralogical level. Changes in Thorium regulations and liabilities resulted in the development of excessive market concentrations in the rare earth value chain. High value Monazite rare earth resources, a byproduct of heavy mineral sands mining, constituted a significant portion of global rare earth supply (and nearly 100% of heavy rare earths) until...
