Beneficiation of Rare Earth Elements (REE);Rare Earth Elements (REE);baseline;Rare Earth Elements (REE) containing ore

Categories:
Categories:
Unit processes/Materials production/Non-energetic raw materials
Location:
NMG-CN
Reference year: 2012 -
Description

The rare earth element (REE) beneficiation process described is intended for the extraction and production of REEs from ore, which are critical components in various high technology and clean energy applications. REEs are essential in the manufacturing of permanent magnets (like NdFeB magnets), rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, advanced ceramics, electronics, and various other high-tech applications. Users of this LCA data set should pay special attention to the methodological assumptions and allocation choices provided in the Supporting Information and ensure they are compatible with the goal and scope of their particular study. It is important to consider the technological applicability of the REE beneficiation process in relation to the intended application of the REEs. Users should be aware of the environmental impacts associated with conventional mining techniques such as drilling and blasting and include these impacts in their assessment. Additionally, when considering recycling alternatives for REEs, users should account for potential changes in environmental benefits or burdens.

Technology

Ore is recovered from the open pit mine using conventional surface mining techniques such as drilling and blasting. The mine contains 750 million tons of ore at 4.1% REO

Process type
Unit
LCI modeling approach
Attributional
Multifunctional modeling
NONE
Format
ILCD
Aggregation type
NOT_APPLICABLE
Data provider
TianGong
Review status
Internal
Cost
Free
Contact
Tiangong LCI Data Working Group