抄録
Among around 200 sorts of mineral containing rare-earth elements, monazite, bastonaesite, xenotime and ion absorption ore are the most valuable ones.
World reserves of rare earth minerals amount to 45 million tons of contained rare-earth oxides (REO) and China, with reserves of 36 million tons, accounts for 80% of total world reserves.
This volume would be enormous as compared with the annual consumption of around 25 thousand tons. Thus we can say that rare-earths are not "rare" today. They are one of affluent resources now.
To obtain high purity rare-earth elements on industrial scale, ion exchange and solvent extraction methods are explored.
Recently, we can obtain rare-earths at moderate prices on the ground of their intense resources develop-ment, wide application and expansion of production.
