Rare-earth mineral

A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes in pegmatites. This would be associated with alkaline magmas or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Minerals are the solid composer of inorganic substances.^[1] They are formed through the atomic movement of fluid which can be derived from evaporation, pressure or any physical change.^[2] They are mostly determined through their atomic weight.^[3] The minerals that are known as 'rare' earth minerals are considered rare due to their unique geochemical makeup and properties.^[4] These substances are not normally found in mining affiliated clusters.^[4] Thus an indication of these minerals being short in supply and allocated their title as 'rare' earth minerals.^[4] Many rare-earth minerals include rare-earth elements which thus hold the same significant purpose of rare-earth minerals.^[5] Earth's rare minerals have a wide range of purposes, including defense technologies and day-to-day uses.^[6] This would be associated with alkaline magmas or with carbonatite intrusives. Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare-earth elements within the alkaline complexes. Mantle-derived carbonate melts are also carriers of the rare earths. Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism contain a variety of rare-earth minerals. Rare-earth minerals are usually found in association with alkaline to peralkaline igneous complexes in pegmatites.

The following includes the relatively common hydrothermal rare-earth minerals and minerals that often contain significant rare-earth substitution: