Mongolia to Partner with Russia to Develop Rare Earth Deposits

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsuk said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel that he will be ready to cooperate with Russia in the exploration of rare earth deposits.

“We are ready to cooperate with different countries around the globe, including the Russian Federation, in geological exploration of rare earth metal deposits and their further use," their head of state said. “The two countries have a good tradition of cooperation in the field of mining, and hundreds of Mongolian mining specialists were educated in Russia and are successfully working in this field."

Khurelsuk said Mongolia is one of the 12 countries with the richest natural wealth in the world. "Our country has a very developed mining industry. We are exporting our products to Russia and China. We have very good deposits of gold, coal, iron ore, and rare earth metals. Our geologists have discovered four rare earth deposits metals." The president added, "There can be about 80 in total in the country."

REEs are usually subdivided into three groups, namely light rare earth elements (LREE), heavy rare earth elements (HREE), and medium-rare earth elements (MREE). However, not all researchers agree to separate HREE and LREE. Chemists and physicists tend to use the similarity of atomic structures to form groups, i.e., their electronic structures. Those REEs with paired 4f electrons, namely terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Th), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu), are usually included in the HREE group. Samarium, europium, and gadolinium are MREEs, while the rest of the REEs are the so-called LREEs.

With Mongolia's mining industry suddenly attracting international attention, a frequently asked question is whether the country can provide a steady supply of rare earth, 17 elements critical to the large-scale manufacture of a variety of items, according to the Oxford Business Group. Increased exploration for rare earth deposits is one of several priorities for the Mongolian mining industry. Although exploration work is currently underway, it will take at least two to three years for anyone deposit to reach the production stage, according to government officials.

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