Introduction
Bastnäsite is a fluoro-carbonate mineral that serves as the world’s primary source of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs). If the rare earth industry has a “workhorse” mineral, this is it. It is responsible for the vast majority of the world’s supply of Cerium, Lanthanum, and Neodymium.
Composition & Chemistry
Formula: (Ce, La)(CO3)F
It is strictly a LREE source. It contains very little of the valuable heavy rare earths (like Dysprosium or Terbium) and almost no Yttrium. However, its high total rare earth oxide (TREO) content-often up to 70% or 75%-makes it incredibly efficient to process compared to other ores.
Global Significance
The two most famous rare earth mines in the world are Bastnäsite deposits:
- Bayan Obo (China): The largest REE deposit on Earth.
- Mountain Pass (USA): The only major operating rare earth mine in the United States (California), which mines high-grade Bastnäsite.
Processing Considerations
Processing Bastnäsite is relatively straightforward compared to other minerals. It is typically upgraded via froth flotation and then leached with acid. Unlike Monazite, it generally contains very low levels of radioactive Thorium, making environmental permitting and handling significantly easier.