Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute has found large deposits of 15 Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur. According to scientists, REE comprising minerals including Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Yttrium, Hafnium, Tantalum, Niobium, Zirconium, and Scandium, is a key component in many electronic devices. They are used in several industrial applications, including medical technology, aerospace and defence.
The rare discovery was made in course of a survey by scientists for non-traditional rocks like syenites. The elements found in the survey included allanite, ceriate, thorite, columbite, tantalite, apatite, zircon, monazite, pyrochlore euxenite and fluorite.
"Zircon of varying shapes was observed in Reddypalle and Peddavadaguru villages. The monazite grains showed high-order multiple colours with radial cracks within grains, suggestive of the presence of radioactive elements. More feasibility studies will be conducted by deep drilling to learn more about these REEs,” NGRI scientist PV Sunder Raju was quoted as saying in an ANI report.
"These elements are also used in clean energy, aerospace, defence and in manufacturing permanent magnets -- a key component of modern electronics -- wind turbines, jet aircraft and several other products. REEs are widely used in high technology because of their luminescent and catalytic properties,” he said.
REE, according to a Times of India report, lanthanide series is a critical component in many electronic devices we use in our daily lives, like cellphones, televisions, computers, automobiles and in various industrial applications.
“The NGRI scientists were conducting a survey to look for non-traditional rocks like syenites in Anantapur and have successfully identified the host minerals. The major REEs identified include allanite, ceriate, thorite, columbite, tantalite, apatite, zircon, monazite, pyrochlore euxenite and fluorite,” the report said.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
