The progress in the strategic research and survey of rare earth, rare metal and rare-scattered elements mineral resources

Abstract：The three types of rare mineral resources include the rare earth, rare metal, and rare-scattered (dispersed) mineral resources in the project of the strategic research on three types of rare mineral resources. Since the beginning of the project, the research group has studies the distribution, geological features, exploitation, metallurgic technology, and market supply and demand of the rare mineral resources in the world. The investigation shows that the HREE resources have been consumed rapidly, the comprehensive utilization of critical dispersed metals should be improved, and the exploration for rare metal resources is urgent in China. Meanwhile, the utilization quality of the rare resources is low, the high added value products are very insufficient, and the ore dressing recovery percentage is low. Furthermore, 80% REE mines have been mined beyond the border, and 30% REE mines are accompanied by environmental pollution. In the aspect of metallogenic theory and regularity, the research shows that the ore-forming rocks of the ion-absorbing type REE deposit can extend to metamorphic rock and basic igneous rock from the conventional granitic and volcanic rock, and the distribution of endogenetic Li and REE deposits are separated in space and time. On the other hand, the project research group refreshed the analytical technique for the rare elements, and applied the high resolution remote sensing to the supervision and management of the rare resources. On the basis of research achievements, some opinions are put forward, such as the individual assessment for the 17 rare earth elements, the improvement of exploration standards, the creation of composite mineral commodity for some refractory rare resources, and the way to supervise mines and find new mines by sampling water from the river in southern Jiangxi. Also, in view of the different characteristics of the rare mineral resources, the authors suggest that the government should establish integrated exploration area for rare metal resources, planning area for the rare earth resources, and demonstration area for the comprehensive utilization of the scattered resources.