非洲稀土资源研究进展

Research progress of rare earth element resources in Africa

稀土是现代高科技产业发展的关键金属,被世界主要经济体列为关键矿产资源。虽然中国稀土资源丰富,但2017年以来中国稀土资源进口量呈现出明显的上升趋势。总结中国稀土资源的进口数据,以及非洲稀土项目分布、储量及资源量、矿床类型、成矿时代、典型矿床特征及勘查投资等情况,以提升对非洲稀土资源的认识。研究表明,非洲稀土资源丰富,稀土氧化物的高级资源量超过1000×10^(4)t,近年来勘探及开发进度提升迅速。稀土储量及资源量主要集中于坦桑尼亚等12个国家,成矿类型可划分为火成碳酸岩型及离子吸附型等8种(成矿时代跨度大),其中火成碳酸岩型和离子吸附型稀土矿床是目前勘探及开发的重点。非洲稀土矿床勘查投资规模2012年达到顶峰,之后持续下降,2017年降至低谷,2018年开始迅速反弹。未来,随着国际上稀土矿项目逐步投产,由中国主导全球稀土市场价格的局面将面临挑战。非洲稀土矿成矿条件优越,中资企业可利用地-采-选-冶的技术优势,积极引导并推动非洲稀土生产进入中国产业链。

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.