The EURARE project Laboratory of Metallurgy, NTUA EURARE Coordinator

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1 The EURARE project Laboratory of Metallurgy, NTUA EURARE Coordinator

2 The EURARE Project Developing a sustainable exploitation scheme for Europe s REE ore deposits 2 - EURARE project

3 the main goal of the EURARE project is to set the technological basis for the development of a European REE industry that will safeguard the uninterrupted supply of REE raw materials and products to crucial for the EU economy industrial sectors, such as automotive, electronics, machinery and chemicals, in a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally friendly way. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community s Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/ ]) under grant agreement n This publication reflects only the author s view, exempting the Community from any liability. 3 - Project Overview

4 The EURARE EC Grant Agreement was signed on 14/12/2012 It is in effect from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/ partners from 10 European countries 4 - Project Overview

5 The EURARE Consortium Knowledge Chain 5 - Project Overview

6 EURARE Concept and Objectives I. Definition and assessment of the exploitable REE mineral resources and REE demand in Europe. II. Development of sustainable and efficient REE Ore Beneficiation Technologies, that will lead to the production of high grade REE concentrates and minimization of produced tailings III. Development of sustainable REE Extraction and Refining Technologies, achieving at least 95% extraction and separation yields of REE and to produce at least 98% pure REE oxides, REE metals and REE alloys suitable for use in downstream industries IV. The development of a Strategy for safe REE mining and processing V. Field Demonstration of the novel EURARE REE exploitation technologies. VI. Identification of novel sustainable exploitation schema for Europe s REE deposits. 6 - Project Overview

7 RTD Effort 7 - Project Overview

8 The EURARE Project European REE Deposits 8 - Project Overview

9 A REE map before EURARE 9 - Project Overview EURARE Kick off meeting Athens Feb 2013

10 Assessing the REE Resources in all Europe Compiled a list of 91 REE occurrences in 20 European countries Parallel exploratory field work in Greenland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Scotland and Greece Developing an on-line REE database: EURARE- IKMS Project Overview The EURARE project team

11 Sarfartoq Qaqarssuk Kringlerne Kvanefjeld Motzfeldt Named deposits are subjects of active exploration with bold explorations in EURARE Interactive Map already online Project Overview Sökli Kiruna Fen Norra Kärr Storkwitz Peramos Çanakli Parnasos (Bauxite)

12 12 - Project Overview

13 One step further Building the EURMKB EU-MKDP Web Portal A professional architecture: A Central Harvesting Database synchronized with a Central Diffusion Database. The first one controls data quality and the second one is optimized for diffusion. Synchronization is made using SQL scripts. EU level Country level Web Services DB SYNCHRONIZATION Harvesting DB (+ quality control) Web Services Web Services Harvesting mechanism (ETL process) Deegree 3 MICKA Catalog (CS/W) Web Services (WMS/WFS) Diffusion DB (+ diffusion optimizations) Web Services (Stats, auto report, filtering ) INFORMATION FACTORY Indexation Web Services (Search engine) Documents & Metadata Project DB National DB National DB Standardized data models (INSPIRE MR, ERML) 13 - Project Overview Provider DB Provider DB Provider DB Mapping (ETL process and code lists) Provider s own format

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15 Kvanefjeld Deposit, Greenland One of the world s largest known REE deposit GME has invested over $60M over past 5 years in exploration and research JORC-code mineral resource at Kvanefjeld currently stands at 1.06% TREO and 0.03% U3O8 Potential to supply 20% of global heavy rare earth element demand. Geological Setting: Peralkaline nepheline Major REE mineral: Steenstrupine 15 - Project Overview

16 Norra Karr Deposit, Sweden Unique HREE/LREE % ratio: 49/ Project Overview NORRA KÄRR Geological Setting: Peralkaline nepheline Major REE mineral :Eydialite 331Kt of TREO, (0.44% TREO grade) 40 Year Mine Life No radioactivity Simple magnetic concentration Potential to supply 14% of the projected world demand in Dy oxide, 7% in Tb oxide and 2.2% of Nd oxide Exploitable Zr content Granted test mine permit

17 Kringlerne Deposit, Greenland High HREE/LREE % ratio: 31/69 Large 0.57% TREO grade Similar to Norra Karr in mineralogy and HREE content Estimated TREO reserves similar to Kvanefjeld No radiation issues Exploration license Geological Setting: Peralkaline nepheline Major REE mineral :Eydialite 17 - Project Overview

18 Fen Complex, Norway Søvite REO: 0,5% (in apatite) Th: 0,01% Calcite (main): Ca CO3 Apatite:Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) Niobium Rødberg REO: 1,5-2,0% Th: 0,1% Magnetite (main): Fe3O4 Some Carbonates Rauhaugite REO:1,2-1,8% Th: 0,01% Ankerite(main):Ca(Fe,Mg,Mn)(CO3)2 Some Magnetite: Fe3O4 Historical (1921) REE deposit 129 km from Oslo Contains also Fe, Nb, Th % REE mostly LREE Rodberg: > 300 million tons with >1,5 % REE; 76% Feoxides Low REE mineral grain size, prevents effective beneficiation Th content 18 - Project Overview

19 Bauxite Residue (red mud), Greece Industrial by-product of primary aluminium industry More than 700,000 t produced annually in Greece and stored near the plant 0.14% TREO including Sc BR produced in AoG annualy amounts to 10% of the European REE imports Potential global Sc resource No beneficiation methodology Scandium Low global Th annual content. production is less than 15 t 13- Project Overview Waste-to-resource

20 Why is Sc important? Sc is an exotic REE produced in minor quantities from Uranium, TiO2 and other tailings Sc can substitute Y in many material applications achieving superior results: In SOFC Sc-stabilized Zirconia has lowered operational temperatures leading to commercialization of the technology Sc drastically improves Aluminium alloy properties increasing strength, corrosion resistance, allowing welding and others The Al-Sc-Mg alloy powder is used in 3D printing by AIRBUS 20 - Project Overview APWorks, 2 Decemeber 2015 We did produce 122 out of the 162 parts on our M400 out of SCALMALLOY. Sc-SOFC deployed at NASA The partition weights a massive building 45% less than current Airbus A320 partition designs

21 The EURARE Project RTD on REE European Resources 21 - Project Overview

22 Beneficiation Lab Tests of REE deposits Samples collected from 8 European deposits (Greenland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Spain) Chemical, Mineralogical and liberation analysis performed Beneficiation flow sheets have been produced for 5 samples (3 alkaline igneous rock, 1 hydrothermal, 1 placer deposit) TREE concentrate grades up to 15% Eudialyte Na 4 Ca 1.5 Ce 0.5 Fe Mn Y 0.1 ZrSi 8 O 22 (OH) 1.5 Cl Project Overview

23 All the Deposits Tested Kringlerne Nora Karr Kvanefjeld Olserum FEN Minerals Rodberg Sovite Rauhaugite Bastnat New Joh Greek Placer 23 - Project Overview Eudialytes 0.6% REO in ore Steenstrupine 1.3% REO in ore Monazite and Xenotime 0.5% REO in ore Iron Rich Carbonate Rich Complex Mixture and High Grade (15%REO) Allanite 0.6% REO EURARE Kick off meeting Mixture of RE Value Minerals ( % REO) TREO Mineral Concentrates produced % 15% 20% NA - 1.5% Athens Feb 2013

24 Mineral acid leaching of low grade Silicate REE ores Low energy process (no baking) Relatively low acid consumption Application to Norra Karr, Tanbreez, Kvanefjeld To be tested in Pilot scale under EURARE Silicate REE ores have never been used for REE products 24 - Project Overview

25 Selective Leaching of Red Mud with ILs Selective recovery of REEs against Fe, Si, Ti The structure of the IL remains intact from the whole process of leaching and regeneration. Aqueous Strip solution produced is suitable for Sc extraction (Sc upconcentrates more than 16 times from the IL PLS) 25 - Project Overview

26 Nanotechnology for extraction and separation of REE The proof of concept for the creation of magnetic nanoadsorbents for extraction and separation of REE has been achieved. Produced adsorbents are stable in highly acidic medium in over 1 year. The separation coefficient between heavy and light REE reaching ca 80 has been demonstrated. Selectivity of -Fe 2 O Particles obtained after adsorption at neutral ph Particles obtained after desorption at ph=3 Particles obtained after desorption at ph= Project Overview Total uptake capacity (by titration), mmol/g Dy:Nd ratio Dy:La ratio 3.1 : : : 1 81 : : : 1 0,242 0,275 Potential reduction of the volumes of acidic wastewaters up to 10 times has been envisaged. New insights into the surface chemistry of nanoadsorbents materials have been obtained, providing basis for theoretical evaluation of their maximum capacity and potential selectivity.

27 i.e. A336NO3 Conventional neutral of basic route S-X i.e. A336SCN New method for extraction and separation of REE Split-anion extraction is new approach to extraction of rare earths from aqueous chloride feed solution Robust system (requires little to no ph control) i.e. Nitrate IL Split-Anion Extraction Very easy stripping procedure by water easier waste water treatment Essentially a new approach to well-known complexation systems with a proven efficiency with a new type of application that simplifies it, since no change of the aqueous phase is necessary (nitrate/thiocyanate) Less stability issues with thiocyanate ions Invention allows development of rare-earth separation processes with lower OPEX (no acids and bases are consumed; the sole consumables are water and steam)

28 Optimizing Molten salt REE metal production Basic Science enlightened: N2O3 Dissolution kinetics Electrical resistivity/solubility measurements Nd-C Phase diagram produced An optimized cell has been produced allowing for: Process control based on cell voltage with off-gas analysis to stay in green process window without PFC emission Ladder Program with automatic feeding Development of feeding equipment 98% pure Nd produced 28 - Project Overview

29 REE Electro-winning was performed at T<100 o C and REE metals La, Nd, Sm, Dy and alloy Fe-Nd were electrodeposited Electro-recovery of REE from ionic liquids (ILs) at near room temperature Precursors used are REE chlorides The IL solvent is not effected in the process. Energy consumption per kg is 10 less than conventional molten salt technology Current Efficiency >85% Prototype Cell for continuous operation is being tested 29 - Project Overview

30 The EURARE Project From Ore to Magnet technology demonstration in Pilot scale 30 - Project Overview

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32 The Kvanefjeld demonstration line Kvanefjeld Sample GME, Greenland 26 t Ore 1.3% REO Beneficiation Pilot Plant (GTK, Finland) 250 kg Mineral Concentrate 15% REO Leaching Pilot Plant (Outotec, Finland) 25 kg Mixed REE Carbonate 50% REO Solvent Extraction Pilot Nd & Pr oxides Plant (MEAB, Germany) La & Ce chlorides Nd & Pr chlorides Heavy REE chlorides 32 - Project Overview

33 Kvanefjeld Refinery Pilot Plant at Pori, October kg of mixed REE carbonated produced from 250 kg ore concentrate Project Overview

34 Kvanefjeld Solvent-Extraction Pilot Plant at Aachen, January Continuous extraction demo. tests using MEAB s MSU- 0.5 mixer-settler equipment Almost all heavy and medium REEs were extracted in a multi stage mixer settler arrangement. 230 lt of PLS processed containing app. 12 kg of REE 35 - Project Overview EURARE Kick off meeting Athens Feb 2013

35 Eudialyte Concentrates Processing GTK Beneficiation Pliot TANBREEZ Beneficiation Pliot 500 kg Norra Karr Mineral 1.5% REO 250 kg TANBREEZ Mineral Concentrate 2.1% REO 06/2016 Eudialyte Leaching Pilot Plant (RWTH, Germany) 09/2016 Solvent Extraction Pilot Nd & Pr oxides Plant (MEAB, Germany) 36 - Project Overview La-Nd & Sm-Tb Chlordes Yttrium Chloride Heavy REE Chlorides

36 Overview of EURARE major achievements so far... Mapping of European REE resources First interactive online database system IKMS Beneficiation and leaching of Eudialytes (low grade silicate deposits found in Europe) Utilization of Bauxite Residues as a potential resource for global Sc production New S-X technologies using nanotechnology or Ionic Liquids Optimizing molten salt REE metal production Achieved REE metal electowinning in Ionic Liquids at near room temperature First industrial pilot plant case studies in Europe for producing REE from European REE resources 37 - Project Overview

37 So what does it all mean for Europe? The potential to reduce REE import dependency exists BUT several pieces of the puzzle are missing 38 - Project Overview

38 So what does it all mean for Europe? And if a REE industry was established in Europe, would you have it in your backyard? We all want clean energy and high-tech devices in our life, but we seem to prefer that some one else does the dirty mining and processing job for us Project Overview EURARE Kick off meeting Athens Feb 2013