What is xenotime made of?
Xenotime is a rare-earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate (YPO4). It forms a solid solution series with chernovite-(Y) (YAsO4) and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic, as well as silicon dioxide and calcium.
How is xenotime formed?
Xenotime (YPO4) is a trace component in many metasedimentary and some igneous rocks, altered rocks and many hydrothermal ore assemblages, where it forms in response to a range of different processes from igneous crystallisation to low-temperature early diagenesis.
Is xenotime a mineral?
xenotime, widely distributed phosphate mineral, yttrium phosphate (YPO4), though large proportions of erbium commonly replace yttrium), that occurs as brown, glassy crystals, crystal aggregates, or rosettes in igneous rocks and associated pegmatites, in quartzose and micaceous gneiss, and commonly in detrital material.
What is Bastnaesite used for?
Primary Commodity Uses: Rare earth elements are used to make strong magnets for smartphone speakers, microphones, vibration motors, smartphone screens, as well as many other high-tech applications.
What is monazite made of?
Monazite is a brown crystalline mineral consisting of cerium, lanthanum, other rare earth elements, and thorium. Monazite usually occurs in small, isolated crystals or grains that are resistant to weathering and become concentrated in soils and sediments downslope from the host rock.
What is the mineral phosphate used for?
It is the major resource mined to produce phosphate fertilizers for the agriculture sector. Phosphate is also used in animal feed supplements, food preservatives, anti-corrosion agents, cosmetics, fungicides, ceramics, water treatment and metallurgy.
How do you identify a zircon in a thin section?
Distinguishing Features Zircon is not usuall seen in hand sample; when it is, it may be distinguished by crystal habit and hardness. In thin section, Zircon is found in the form of small crystals included in other minerals, showing very high relief and high-order interference colors.
Where is ytterbium found?
Ytterbium is found with other rare-earth elements in several rare minerals. It is most often recovered commercially from monazite sand (0.03% ytterbium). The element is also found in euxenite and xenotime. The main mining areas are China, the United States, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia.
Where is bastnaesite found?
Bastnaesite occurs in pegmatites near Pikes Peak, Colo. and with fluorite in Lincoln County, New Mexico; it is commercially mined at Mountain Pass, Calif. For detailed physical properties, see carbonate mineral (table).
How is monazite processed?
Monazite and xenotime ores are treated essentially the same way, since both are phosphate minerals. In the basic process, finely ground monazite or xenotime is mixed with a 70 percent sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and held in an autoclave at 140–150 °C (284–302 °F) for several hours.
What is xenotime made out of?
Xenotime is a rare-earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate (YPO4). It forms a solid solution series with chernovite-(Y) (YAsO4) and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic, as well as silicon dioxide and calcium.
What are the characteristics of xenotime and monazite?
Xenotime, a phosphate ore, is one of the valuable mineral deposits of rare earths similar to monazite. The main characteristics of xenotime are listed below: (1) The content of yttrium is high while that of the light rare earths is low (Table 12 ). (2) The content of thorium is lower than that in monazite ( Table 13 ).
What are the disadvantages of W-xenotime?
A lot of impurities contained in the concentrate of W- xenotime and the comparative high contents of rare earths, tungsten, and niobium will make the purification process very complicated, and lot of wastewater and waste solid is produced.
How to decompose xenotime concentrate?
Comparing with monazite concentrate, the decomposition of xenotime concentrate is more difficult. The methods adopted for decomposing xenotime concentrate mostly are the ones with concentrated sulfuric acid, alkali solution with high pressure and high temperature, alkali fusion, and so on.