Occurrence of Rare Earth Elements in Deep-Sea Mud from the Western Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Deep sea mud is a new type of rare earth elements resources with potential economical significance. However, the occurrence of Rare Earth Elements is contradictory. Through systematic study on mineralogy of the deep-sea mud from the Western Pacific Ocean, we determine that the main REE mineral is phosphate mineral, including apatite, monazite and xenotime. But the grain size of the deep-sea mud and the phosphate mineral are fine, and this result in the difficulty of ore concentration. Therefore, we suggest that utilizing some proper methods to form the agglomeration of the deep-sea mud, and this method is potential direction for future Utilization of submarine mineral resources.

Keywords

• deep-sea mud
• rare earth elements
• occurrence
• western pacific ocean