Chinese scientists have successfully developed electric drive mining technology for weathered crust-type rare earth ores, which increases the rare earth recovery rate by about 30%, reduces the impurity content by about 70%, and shortens the mining time by about 70%. This reporter learned this at a scientific and technological achievements evaluation meeting held in Meizhou City, Guangdong Province on the 15th.
It is understood that weathered crust type rare earth minerals are my country’s characteristic resources. The currently widely used ammonium salt in-situ leaching technology has problems in ecological environment, resource utilization efficiency, leaching cycle and other aspects, which restricts the efficient and green utilization of my country's rare earth resources.
In response to related issues, He Hongping's team at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an electric drive mining technology for weathered crust rare earth ores based on research on the occurrence status of rare earths in weathered crust rare earth ores. Simulation experiments, scale-up tests, and site demonstrations have shown that compared with existing mining processes, the electric drive mining technology of weathered crust rare earth ores has been significantly optimized in terms of rare earth recovery rate, leach agent dosage, mining cycle, and impurity removal. It is an efficient and green new technology for the mining of weathered crust rare earth ores.
Relevant results have been published in 11 high-level papers in journals such as "Nature-Sustainability", 7 authorized invention patents have been obtained, and a demonstration project with a scale of 5,000 tons of earthwork has been built. The research team stated that it will step up efforts to improve technology integration and accelerate the industrial application of relevant results.
The above-mentioned scientific and technological achievements evaluation meeting will be attended by academicians and well-known experts from domestic universities, research institutes and enterprises.
Group photo of guests attending the conference
Results report site
Guests inspect the demonstration project
Harvested rare earth carbonates