An Overview of Rare Earth Ores Beneficiation in Vietnam

Abstract

Rare earth metals are used in electricity, electronics, nuclear, optics, space, metallurgy, superconducting and super magnetic materials, glass and ceramics, and agriculture. Some rare earth elements are added to fertilizers for crops and some trials for animal feed. Rare earth elements, except for radioactive promethium, are relatively abundant in the earth's crust. Vietnam has a tremendous rare earth potential, distributed mainly in the Northwest, including Nam Xe, Dong Pao, Muong Hum, and Yen Bai. There are many research projects on rare earth ores of different types globally, but the focus is mainly on the essential minerals, including monazite, xenotime, and bastnaesite. This report summarizes research data on rare earth ore intending to produce a general assessment of rare earth ore and its beneficiation technology in Vietnam.