Sulfuric Acid Leaching of Carbonatite ore with High Calcite Content in Lugiin Gol under Ambient Condition

AbstractCarbonatite bearing rare earth elements are rich sources of rare earth elements and play a critical role in the global supply chain. While carbonatite deposits are less accessible compared to ion adsorption clays, their mineral composition makes them essential for rare earth element extraction. Extraction of rare earth elements from carbonatite ore involves acid leaching, a process that we aim to explore in this study using the carbonatite ore from Lugiin gol. Characterization of the raw material and solid residue post‐leaching was conducted using X‐ray diffractometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and a zeta potential analyzer. These analytical techniques were utilized for kinetic modeling, assessing the influencing factors of leaching, and determining metal recovery in the pregnant solution. The results of the study highlight the significant role of surface charge formation on target particles during milling in the acidic leaching process. This finding shed light on the importance of understanding the surface properties of the particles in the extraction of rare earth elements from carbonatite ores. The surface of particles in the supernatant of rare earth elements’ ore was negatively charged, with the median zeta potential of the 0.025 mm fraction being at its minimum of −60.6 mV.