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Bastnasite
Bastnasite is a concentrated, mixed lanthanide, fluoro-carbonate
mineral and serves as the primary source of the worlds
separated Lanthanides. It is a widely consumed product
because it contains the natural ratio of Lanthanide
elements and is a major source of feed for downstream
mineral recovery.
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Bastnasite, concentrated and produced
at Mountain Pass, is the worlds leading source for glass polish.
Bastnasite offers a low cost way to obtain the necessary Cerium
for polish compounds used on optical glass, mirrors, telescopes,
television glass, silicon microprocessors, hard disk drives
and cameras to name a few. |
| A great
example of the polishing power of Bastnasite occurs
right on our own property. The mill tailings, in our
tailing impoundment, contain a small amount of the Lanthanides.
As the bulldozer moves the tailings, the Lanthanides
act as a strong polishing agent and strips any dullness
or corrosion from the dozer blade. The blades are so
polished they're like mirrors!
Bastnasite is also consumed in television
faceplates and light bulbs for ultraviolet shielding
and de-coloring. |
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Another use of Bastnasite
is in the production of a certain type of mischmetal
(mixed metal) which results when the oxides in Bastnasite
are converted to metal form. Mischmetal is used to make
lighter flints and alloys for use in steel (Cerium improves
the physical properties of high-strength, low-alloy
steels due to its affinity for oxygen and sulfur), batteries
and magnets.
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4000 |
Bastnasite Concentrate |
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4010 |
Bastnasite Leached |
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4100 |
Bastnasite Leached Calcined |
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| A
Lanthanide Lanthology A - L |
| A guide containing information on
a variety of topics such as the sources, production,
nature and uses of the lanthanide materials. |
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