RBW Projects - Living and Dead11 Sep 2023 09:06
Mineral composition and identification of REE-containing minerals are of great importance in assessing the economic potential of phosphogypsum. SEM, EPMA, ICP-MS/AES based studies and analyzes are used to identify REE-bearing minerals. Phosphogypsum Uberaba consists mainly of gypsum crystals, making up about 93% of the total mass. Accessory minerals are quartz, REE-containing fluorides (Ca-, Al-), monazite, celestine, iron oxides, ilmenite, barite, pyrochlore and baddeleyite. Monazite is the most important REE carrier in phosphogypsum. The total REE content in monazite averages 57%. Monazite contains 50% to 60% of the total REE in phosphogypsum, with the remaining 40-50% contained in gypsum and Ca-Al fluorides. Therefore, no more than 40-50% REE can be extracted from phosphogypsum, which is less than from Phalaborwa phosphogypsum - ABOUT 65% (this is declared by RBW).
We are waiting for the results of mineralogical analysis of Uberaba phosphogypsum.
I would really like to see a chemical analysis of the mixed rare earth sulfate with a content of 58%.
In addition, I would like to receive at least some information on the “dead” projects in Morocco and the extraction of REE from nitrophosphorus solutions in South Africa, the information has disappeared even on the RBW website)))))