Rare earth elements:A review of applications, occurrence,exploration,analysis,recycling, and environmental impact

Rare earth elements(REE)include the lanthanide series elements(La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Pm,Sm,Eu,Gd,Tb,Dy.Ho,Er,Tm,Yb,and Lu)plus Sc and Y.Currently these metals have become very critical to several modern technologies ranging from cell phones and televisions to LED light bulbs and wind turbines.This article summarizes the occurrence of these metals in the Earth’s crust,their mineralogy,different types of deposits both on land and oceans from the standpoint of the new data with more examples from the Indian subcontinent.In addition to their utility to understand the formation of the major Earth reservoirs.multi-faceted updates on the applications of REE in agriculture and medicine including new emerging ones are presented.Environmental hazards including human health issues due to REE mining and large-scale dumping of e-waste containing significant concentrations of REE are summarized.New strategies for the future supply of REE including recent developments in the extraction of REE from coal fired ash and recycling from e-waste are presented.Recent developments in individual REE separation technologies in both metallurgical and recycling operations have been highlighted.An outline of the analytical methods for their precise and accurate determinations required in all these studies,such as,Xray fluorescence spectrometry(XRF),laser induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS),instrumental neutron activation analysis(INAA),inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES),glow discharge mass spectrometry(GD-MS),inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(including ICP-MS,ICP-TOF-MS,HR-ICP-MS with laser ablation as well as solution nebulization)and other instrumental techniques,in different types of materials are presented.

Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks from Permian–Triassic boundary sections of Tethys Himalaya: implications for paleo-weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting

The geochemical characteristics of two sections—the Permian–Triassic boundary(PTB) Guryul Ravine section, Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir,India; and the Attargoo section, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India—have been studied in the context of provenance, paleo-weathering, and plate tectonic setting.These sections represent the siliciclastic sedimentary sequence from the Tethys Himalaya. The PTB siliciclastic sedimentary sequence in these regions primarily consists of sandstones and shales with variable thickness. Present studied sandstones and shales of both sections had chemical index of alteration values between 65 and 74; such values reveal low-to-moderate degree of chemical weathering. The chemical index of weathering in studied samples ranged from 71 to 94, suggesting a minor K-metasomatism effect on these samples. Plagioclase index of alteration in studied sections ranged from 68 to 92, indicating a moderate degree of weathering of plagioclase feldspars. The provenance discriminant function diagram suggests that the detritus involved in the formation of present studied siliciclastic sedimentary rocks fall in quartzose sedimentary and felsic igneous provenances. These sediments were deposited in a passive continental margin plate tectonic setting according to their location on a Si_2 O versus K_2O/Na_2 O tectonic setting diagram.

REE geochemistry of auriferous quartz carbonate veins of Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit,Chitradurga schist belt,Dharwar Craton,India

REE composition of the carbonates of the auriferous quartz carbonate veins（QCVs） of the Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit.Chitradurga schist belt.Dharwar Craton,is characterized by U-shaped chondrite normalized REE patterns with both LREE and HREE enrichment and a distinct positive Eu anomaly.As positive Eu anomaly is associated with low oxygen fugacity,we propose that the auriferous fluids responsible for gold mineralization at Ajjanahalli could be from an oxygen depleted fluid.The observed positive Eu anomaly is interpreted to suggest the derivation of the auriferous fluids from a mantle reservoir.The location of Ajjanahalli gold deposit in a crustal scale shear zone is consistent with this interpretation.

Combating Climate Change and Global Warming for a Sustainable Living in Harmony with Nature

As humanity has been polluting the atmosphere with greenhouse gases,the planet is getting warmed up which is triggering the frequency and the intensity of extreme events like heat waves,dry conditions,wildfires,cyclones,tornadoes,lightning,and massive flooding all over the planet Earth.There is considerable evidence that the concentration of greenhouse gases,especially that of CO_(2) has steadily increased in the atmosphere as a result of the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels around the world particularly during the last 70 years.The glaciers in the high mountain and polar regions are diminishing fast,sea levels are rising,and food production is being affected severely in certain parts of the world.In fact,the changing climate has currently become one of the major threats to the survival of civilization.The world scientific communities are warning of a climate emergency and requesting the decision makers to promptly respond and act to sustain life on planet Earth.To deliver net zero emissions by the year 2050,the whole world must phase out the technologies such as coal-powered thermal plants and diesel/petrol/gasoline-powered vehicles which release abundant amounts of CO_(2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and invest in the development of clean energies such as hydel,wind,solar,space-solar,and nuclear energies.This transition to a low-carbon economy with the help of these technologies together with other technologies such as hydrogen fuel,fuel cells,electric vehicles,and massive plantations is expected to take our planet Earth to a safe zone in the coming 20-30 years.

Boninitic geochemical characteristics of high-Mg mafic dykes from the Singhbhum Granitoid Complex,Eastern India

The high-Mg mafic dykes from the Singhbhum Granitoid Complex in East India have geochemical characteristics[e.g.,enrichment of the large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements(LREEs) relative to high field strength elements(HFSEs):high-MgO(>8%),high-SiO_2(>52%),low-TiO_2(<0.5%),and high CaO/Al_2O_3(>0.58)]similar to those found in boninitic/noritic rocks.Their high percentage of orthopyroxene as a mafic mineral and of plagioclase as a felsic mineral,and normative hypersthene content greater than diopside content are also indications of their boninitic/noritic affinity.On a triangular diagram of MgO-CaO-Al_2O_3 and on binary diagrams of Ti/V vs Ti/Sc and TiO_2 vs Zr,these samples show geochemical similarities with Phanerozoic boninites and Paleoproterozoic high-Mg norites.On major and trace element variation diagrams,these dykes show a normal crystallization trend and their Nb/La(<0.5) and Nb/Ce(<0.21) values lower than average bulk crust(0.69 and0.33,respectively) suggest no crustal contamination.Their low values of Rb/Sr(0.11-0.41) and Rb/Ba(0.10-0.27)also suggest little or no effect of post magmatic processes.Their TiO_2(0.27-0.50),Al_2O_3/TiO_2(19.30-42.48),CaO/TiO_2(12.96-32.52),and Ti/V(12-18) values indicate derivation from a depleted mantle source under oxidizing conditions such as a mantle wedge.Ni vs Zr modeling shows that the studied high-Mg dykes were generated by25-30%melting of a refractory mantle source.Enrichment of Rb,Th,U,Pb,Sr,and LREEs,and depletion of HFSEs—especially Nb,P,Ti,Zr—on primitive mantle—and chondrite-normalized spider diagrams,respectively,are clear signals that the slab-derived component played an important role in the formation of melts for these rocks in a supra-subduction zone setting.

Lithium:A review of applications,occurrence,exploration,extraction,recycling,analysis,and environmental impact

The energy transition challenges faced by modern civilization have significantly enhanced the demand for critical metals like lithium resulting in improved methods to explore,extract,and utilize these metals.In this comprehensive review,we discuss the different types of lithium resources,factors,and mechanisms controlling lithium enrichment in various geological settings including terrestrial and marine environments.Diverse exploration strategies including geological,geophysical,mineralogical,geochemical,and remote sensing techniques including drone-based techniques for lithium exploration studies in different terranes are summarized.An overview of the mining techniques,including beneficiation and extraction,and their principles,mechanisms,operations,and comparison of the various approaches and compatibility with different types of lithium deposits for obtaining maximum yield are evaluated.Lithium isotopic studies are useful in understanding geological processes such as past weathering events and riverine input into the oceans,as well as in understanding the source of lithium in diverse types of deposits.We also highlight the recent developments in other areas such as recycling,environmental impact,and state-of-the-art analytical techniques for determining lithium in different lithium ore deposits and other geological materials.Our overview provides the latest developments and insights in the various sectors related to lithium and prompt further developments to meet the growing demand for this valuable metal as the world transforms to clean energy.