Guidelines for rare earth elements (REE) exploration in Malaysia: A look into the rise of REE exploration in the country

Résumé fourni par la source

The ion-adsorption clay type rare earth elements deposit (IAC-REE) is recognised as one of Malaysia’s strategic mineral resources due to its high global demand and economic potential. REEs are important raw materials for advanced sectors such as electronics, green technology, defence, catalysis, and automotive manufacturing. As IAC-REE exploration in Malaysia is relatively new and not yet well understood, the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) has developed guidelines to assist its officers with the fundamentals of exploration and the interpretation of laboratory results. JMG has published two editions of these guidelines. The first edition, published in 2015, provides an overview of REE genesis and global deposit types, along with a step-by-step approach to conducting reconnaissance surveys. The second edition, published in 2023, is an updated version that focuses more on the genesis of IAC-REE deposits, provides guidance for subsequent exploration, and includes methods for calculating resources, while also addressing in-situ leaching (ISL) method and environmental concerns associated with irresponsible REE mining. These guidelines are based on reputable local and international journals and research studies. This paper aims to outline the contents of the second edition of the guidelines and highlight their relevance to the IAC-REE exploration conducted by JMG.

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