Zircon / HREE
Zircon/HREE+ 1 related classifications
Polymetallic deposits where zirconium (as zircon) and heavy rare earth elements are the primary target commodities, often hosted in alkaline or peralkaline igneous complexes. The Dubbo Alkaline Complex in New South Wales, Australia, is the archetype, containing zircon, hafnium, niobium, and a suite of HREEs including dysprosium and terbium.
Processing
DifficultyHigh
Processing & Metallurgy
Requires complex hydrometallurgical processing involving acidic and alkaline digestion steps to dissolve and selectively precipitate each metal. The multi-product nature can improve project economics.
Related Projects
1 FoundTypical Composition
The set of elements typically dominant in Zircon / HREE deposits.