MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RARE EARTH POTENTIAL OF TECHNOGENIC WASTES FROM URANIUM DEPOSITS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54668/2789-6323-2026-123-3-193-203Keywords:
rare earth elements, uranium deposits, core samples, technogenic formations, mineralogical analysis, gravity concentration (panning), monazite, rare-metal mineralization, heavy fractionAbstract
This study presents a mineralogical and geochemical investigation of rare earth elements (REE) in leached core samples from a uranium deposit in Kazakhstan. A total of 31 samples were collected from ore-bearing, sub-ore, and barren intervals of boreholes. The analytical workflow included gravity concentration (panning), heavy liquid separation, magnetic separation, and a combination of mineralogical, immersion, microchemical, luminescence, and electron microprobe analyses. The core material is predominantly composed of clay-rich sediments with quartz interlayers and sulfide mineralization (pyrite, marcasite), along with uranium-bearing phases. The heavy fraction contains minerals capable of hosting REE, including monazite, titanite (sphene), and garnet. Monazite, identified in all samples as sparse and isolated grains, represents the principal REE-bearing phase, although its abundance is generally low (<0.01 g). Additional associated minerals include Nb–Ta phases, scheelite, and accessory minerals such as zircon, rutile, apatite, and anatase. The results indicate the presence of REE mineralization within the leached core material and suggest its potential relevance for further geochemical assessment.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Гаухар Бишимбаева, Сауле Нурмакова, Рустем Шарипов, Карлыгаш Буленова, Закен Искаков, Айдана Мырзабекова, Амантай Далбанбай, Ербол Карманов, Магзум Садыков
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