Research progress of rare earth element resources in Africa

REN Junping; ZHANG Hang; GU Alei; SUN Kai; LI Jianwu; HU Peng; SUN Hongwei; LU Yiguan; WU Xingyuan; ZHOU Zuomin; WANG Jie; ZUO Libo; DONG Jinmeng; ZHANG Jinrui

doi:10.12097/j.issn.1671-2552.2023.08.001

2023 Vol. 42, No. 8

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Article navigation > Geological Bulletin of China > 2023 > 42(8): 1241-1257

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REN Junping, ZHANG Hang, GU Alei, SUN Kai, LI Jianwu, HU Peng, SUN Hongwei, LU Yiguan, WU Xingyuan, ZHOU Zuomin, WANG Jie, ZUO Libo, DONG Jinmeng, ZHANG Jinrui. 2023. Research progress of rare earth element resources in Africa. Geological Bulletin of China, 42(8): 1241-1257. doi: 10.12097/j.issn.1671-2552.2023.08.001

Citation:

REN Junping, ZHANG Hang, GU Alei, SUN Kai, LI Jianwu, HU Peng, SUN Hongwei, LU Yiguan, WU Xingyuan, ZHOU Zuomin, WANG Jie, ZUO Libo, DONG Jinmeng, ZHANG Jinrui. 2023. Research progress of rare earth element resources in Africa. Geological Bulletin of China, 42(8): 1241-1257. doi: 10.12097/j.issn.1671-2552.2023.08.001

Research progress of rare earth element resources in Africa

1.
Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, Tianjin 300170, China
2.
Southern African Mining Research Institute, China Geological Survey, Tianjin 300170, China
3.
Mining Strategy Research Institute, China Geological Survey, Beijing 430205, China
4.
Northern African Mining Research Institute, China Geological Survey, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, China

Received Date: 01 November 2022

Revised Date: 22 November 2022

Publish Date: 15 August 2023

Abstract

Abstract

Rare earth elements are an essential part for modern high-tech development and have been listed as key mineral resources by major economies in the world.Since 2017, the import trend of rare earth element resources has increased significantly in China.This paper systematically composes and summarizes China's imported rare earth element resource data, distribution of rare earth projects, reserves and resources, deposit types, mineralization ages, typical deposit characteristics and exploration investment in Africa.Africa is rich in rare earth element resources, with advanced resources of rare earth oxides exceeding 10 million tons.In recent years, the exploration and development progress have been enhanced rapidly.The mineralization types can be divided into eight types(complex mineralization period), in which the reserves and resources are mainly concentrated in 12 countries, such as Tanzania, and the igneous carbonatite type and ion adsorption-type REE deposits are currently the focus of exploration and development.The largest exploration investment of rare earth element deposits in Africa occurred in 2012, then continued to decline, reaching a low point in 2017, and the exploration investment has grown very rapidly since 2018.With the gradual production of rare earth element minerals projects in the future internationally, China's dominant global rare earth element market prices will face competition.Rare earth element ore formation conditions are superior in African, and Chinese investment enterprises can use the technical advantages to actively guide and promote African rare-earth element production into our industrial chain.
- rare earth element resources /
- reserves and resources /
- geological characteristics /
- exploration investment /
- price trend /
- Africa

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References

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