Processing of xenotime concentrate

Xenotime is a rare earth phosphate mineral which is a rich source of yttriu m and heavy rare earths. Earlier experimental studies have been carried out in this laboratory on the chemical processing of hand-sorted xenotime obta ined from the Bihar region to rare earth oxide intermediates. In addition t o the deposits of xenotime in the Bihar region there are large volumes of p lacer deposits of rare earths containing both monazite and xenotime in the Siri fiver basin of Madhya Pradesh. Atomic Minerals Division is operating a pilot plant for the beneficiation of rare earths from these Siri river dep osits. A low grade (typically analysing 45% light rare earth oxide, 3.4% Y2 O3 and 2.3% heavy rare earth oxide) and intermediate grade (analysing 18.5% light rare earth oxide, 19.3% Y2O3 and 8.7% heavy rare earth oxide) concen trate is routinely being produced. The paper reports experimental studies i nvolving alkali leaching and alkali fusion studies to recover rare earth ox ide intermediates from low and intermediate grade deposits from Madhya Prad esh. It has been shown possible to extract almost 95% of rare earths by the se processes. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.