REEally exciting stuff
Photograph A: Iron rich oxides. Skouriotissa, Cyprus.
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The future’s bright, the future is…
…a box of orange dirt? Don’t be put off by the appearance of the sample in photograph A as this box of iron rich oxides from the Skouriotissa deposit in Cyprus is aiding Pierre Josso’s PhD project in a big way. Pierre is looking into the formation and extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from sea floor clays. |
A rarity?
Despite their name suggesting otherwise, REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, occurring in approximately 200 minerals (BGS, 2011). However, commercial production of REEs is primarily associated with only two minerals: bastnäsite and monazite (USGS, 2011).
REEs have a wide variety of applications including use in catalysts, magnets and re-chargeable batteries and with demand set to increase for greener, more energy efficient technologies, the future looks bright for REEs.
However…
…perceived problems with the supply chain of REEs and a current lack of viable ore deposits have encouraged scientists to venture down new research avenues.
To the sea!
Marine clays are a potential new source for REEs, but as they are located on the sea floor it means they can be difficult – and expensive – to collect. However, sometimes scientists are able to look to the land in order to collect samples from the sea.
The Troodos ophiolite in Cyprus is a fragment of ancient sea floor that has been uplifted onto the land through geological processes. As such, it provides scientists, such as Pierre, with an easily accessible analogue of the present sea floor.
Ore collection to the rescue.
With 65 samples from the Troodos ophiolite, the ore collection is well equipped to aid with Pierre’s project.
View window three and window twenty four to see how the ore collection has helped with other exciting research project.
References
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Despite their name suggesting otherwise, REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, occurring in approximately 200 minerals (BGS, 2011). However, commercial production of REEs is primarily associated with only two minerals: bastnäsite and monazite (USGS, 2011).
REEs have a wide variety of applications including use in catalysts, magnets and re-chargeable batteries and with demand set to increase for greener, more energy efficient technologies, the future looks bright for REEs.
However…
…perceived problems with the supply chain of REEs and a current lack of viable ore deposits have encouraged scientists to venture down new research avenues.
To the sea!
Marine clays are a potential new source for REEs, but as they are located on the sea floor it means they can be difficult – and expensive – to collect. However, sometimes scientists are able to look to the land in order to collect samples from the sea.
The Troodos ophiolite in Cyprus is a fragment of ancient sea floor that has been uplifted onto the land through geological processes. As such, it provides scientists, such as Pierre, with an easily accessible analogue of the present sea floor.
Ore collection to the rescue.
With 65 samples from the Troodos ophiolite, the ore collection is well equipped to aid with Pierre’s project.
View window three and window twenty four to see how the ore collection has helped with other exciting research project.
References
- British Geological Survey. 2011. Commodity Profile: Rare Earth Elements. Mineral Profiles. p.1-54.
- United States Geological Survey. 2011. Rare Earths. Minerals Yearbook. p.1-13.
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