Bastnasite
Bastnasite is a mixed lanthanide fluoro-carbonate mineral (Ln F CO3) that currently provides the bulk of the world's supply of the light rare earth elements. Bastnasite is found in carbonatites, igneous carbonate rocks that melt at unusually low temperatures. These materials are believed to be produced when mantle rocks melt in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Although it is one of the more widespread rare earth containing minerals few deposits are of sufficient size to be of commercial significance. Currently, only two deposits in the world meet this criteria: Molycorp’s Mountain Pass, California deposit and the Baiyun Ebo deposit in Inner Mongolia, China.

Bastnasite is widely consumed as it is a major source of feed for downstream recovery of the individual rare earth elements. It also is the key ingredient to an exceptional line of polish products. High performing polish compounds made from bastnasite can be used on optical glass, mirrors, telescopes, television glass, silicon microprocessors, hard disk drives and cameras to name just a few.

Bastnasite can also be used in television faceplates and glass melts for ultraviolet shielding and de-coloring as well as for sulphur-getting in alloying agents.


Mirror on the
Hubble Space Telescope

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