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by jeff_carr
955 days ago
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> Rare earth refining traditionally generates a lot of toxic waste of various sorts. Could someone explain why? It certainly seems obviously easier than radioactive waste. All that has to happen is a stable solid. Why are there liquids? |
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What does that mean?
Rare earths are "rare" for two reasons - they are spread about and don't appear in high concentrartions - at least one is "as common" in the crust as copper but it doesn't form in massive lumps of "quite a lot together" in the manner of copper (which forms in several types of clumps, eg [1]).
The other reason they are rare is that they are mostly geochemically bound to other things in the way that silver and gold are not - a strong chemically reaction is required to free them and make them appear - that's a lot of wetwork with acids | reactive gases | etc [2].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_copper_deposit
[2] https://www.britannica.com/science/rare-earth-element/Proces...
Additionally (each ~ an hour)
The Chemistry and Geology of the Clay Rare Earths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFwrg4wWsm4
Options for the separation of Rare Earth Elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMbsOjj_hls
(or search and find a lecture | paper of your preference)