A rare mineral has been discovered in Polar Siberia, which could prove to be an important source of strategically valuable raw materials for modern industry. This refers to loparite – a mineral with a high content of rare earth elements used in electronics, alloys, and lasers. The discovery was made by specialists from GEOKHI RAS and the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry, Ural Branch of RAS.
The rare mineral loparite (Ce) was found in the rocks of the carbonatite series of the Gulin Massif. The massif is located in the north of the Siberian Craton and is considered one of the largest alkaline-ultrabasic complexes in the world.
The final rocks of the Gulin Massif once solidified from magma. In the discovered minerals, the content of rare earth elements reaches 46% – a high indicator. The niobium content does not exceed 1%.
Carbonatite deposits have long been considered a promising source of rare and rare earth metals. According to researchers, the new find helps to better understand the mineralogy of the Gulin Massif and shows which rocks may contain valuable raw materials.
To accurately determine the composition and structure of the find, scientists used electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Electron microscopy allows the mineral to be viewed at very high magnification to see its microstructure, while X-ray diffraction analysis helps to understand how atoms are arranged within it.
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