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5.0 out of 5 stars
So Much More Than an Account of Rare Earth Extraction, September 6, 2007
This review is from: Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths (Hardcover)
The title of this excellent book is a misnomer, as it covers far more than the beneficiation of rare earth ores. It is an up-to-date mini-encyclopedia on the lanthanides.
Gupta and Krishnamurthy begin with a historical survey of the discovery of each rare earth element. From then on, they describe the chemical properties of each REE in considerable detail. They also elaborate on the properties of the major REE-bearing minerals, followed by major types of REE-bearing deposits.
Gupta and Krishnamurthy engage in a nation-by-nation survey of REE production, and then make projections for the future. One may be surprised to learn that South Africa, currently a very modest producer of REE, has the potential to become the world's leader in this regard (p. 126).
The chapters on REE-ore beneficiation are very detailed. They include many helpful flow-charts to help the reader visualize the steps involved. There is also a chapter on the refining of rare earth metals.
Finally, there is extensive discussion of the many and growing application of rare earths. These include magnets, magnetic refrigeration, specialized alloys, superconductors, and much more.
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