Mining News: News Nuggets: All Bokan rare earths split with MRT

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. April 28 reported the separation of samarium and gadolinium, the final two rare earths needed to be split by way of the cutting-edge molecular recognition technology. The MRT process is designed to bind selectively with ions based on multiple parameters such as size, chemistry, and geometry. Using a pregnant leach solution prepared from material taken from Ucore’s Dotson Ridge deposit in Southeast Alaska, IBC Advanced Technologies developed a three-step process for creating nearly pure rare earths. In early March, Ucore reported the successful separation of all the individual rare earth elements except for samarium and gadolinium, which were bound together. Samarium and gadolinium have now been separated into individual salts, each with 99.2 percent purity. “We look forward to completing pilot-scale testing of this promising nano-technology,” said Ucore President and CEO said Jim McKenzie.

- Shane Lasley