Pegmatite
Pegmatite
REE-bearing pegmatites are coarse-grained igneous rocks that can contain high concentrations of rare earth minerals such as allanite, gadolinite, and fergusonite. The Nechalacho deposit in Canada is a notable example. While often small compared to carbonatite deposits, pegmatites can be rich in HREEs.
Processing
DifficultyHigh
Processing & Metallurgy
Complex mineralogy requires careful comminution and selective flotation or gravity separation. The presence of multiple REE-bearing phases complicates metallurgical flow-sheet design.