Investigation on Extracting Rare Earth From Coal

Geoscience BC, a geosciences research and data company in British Columbia, Canada, has some ideas on how to increase the supply of rare earth elements (REE): coal deposits and coal tailings facilities.

Geoscience BC has neither released information on its project financial investment nor how long its work will take. However, officials did say that BC coal bed may be a viable source of these elements, so its research will include characterization and quantification of REE and its extraction possibilities.

During the "Characterization and Extraction of Rare Earth Elements in East Kootenay Coalfield-REE BC Coal Project", the team will examine the samples, complete the characterization stage, and then test the potential extraction process on a laboratory scale.

The researchers added that in the first stage, they would develop a REE database, and they would prepare samples; in the second stage, they would go into the testing part of advanced characterization.

"With the advent of clean energy and defense technologies, the consumption of rare earth elements has increased rapidly," said Maria Holuszko, project leader.

"Traditional rare earth deposits are being rapidly depleted and are expected to meet demand only in the next 15 to 20 years," she said.

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