If you think we haven't processed enough Australian rare earth, African come with reinforcement!

Today's news on Malaysia Insider (28th April 2011, reported by Debra Chong) -- see full text here
Lynas has acquired the  Kangankunde Carbonatite Complex (KGK) deposits in Malawi, and 'is too early' to decide where to process the rare earth.

It is not at all too early for Lynas to announce to us whether to process the Malawi's ore in Malaysia or not. They have already done so and presented that to their Investors exactly two months ago! (ref: See Lynas Investor Presentation, March 2011. pp 34) -- "Concentrates may be processed in Africa to produce a mixed rare earths product which will then be shipped to Malaysia for separation, or may be full processed at the Malaysian processing facility"

That means the mineral cracking and separation will be done in Africa. The rare earth ore will either processed in Africa to produce rare earth mixtures before shipping to Malaysia for refinery/separation; or the ore to be shipped to Malaysia for full refinery processing, e.g. decomposition, refining.


It's not difficult to guess where would Lynas process the Malawi's concentrates, as Lynas has retrieved their ONLY rare earth processing facility in China entirely, hence built a new one in Malaysia.

If not here, where else??

More rare earth? I could do with some good news please

While the Malaysian are publicly criticizing the soon-to-be-completed Lynas Advanced Materials Plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. I read another shocking news on http://www.themalaysianinsider.com, dated 27th May 2011,  reported by Debra Chong - Link to full text. Part of the news reads :


"A Hong Kong company and the Perak government have agreed to explore and mine for rare earths in the state, even as controversy is raging over the Lynas refinery in Pahang. 

In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange dated April 18, CVM Minerals Limited — linked to Ho Wah Genting Berhad — announced it had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Perak State Development Corporation (PSDC) to carry out the project in Bukit Merah, Ipoh. The Hong Kong company, through its local subsidiary CVM Metal Recycle Sdn Bhd, has applied to the state’s land and mineral office for a licence to explore the area, covering 250 hectares, for rare earths ..."  (Malaysia Insider, 27th Apr 2011)


I simply don't get it (do you?), Malaysia does not have abundance rare earth deposits in our ground, we have merely 35,000 tonnes REE reserves in our ground, that's the figure from Mineral Commodity Summaries 2010. Appreciate any comment to correct me here. Thanks for reading

Is Rare Earth Elements (REE) really not safe?

You don't need more introduction what is Rare Earth Elements (REE), you can find full list of explanation of REE from the web. 


We have heard of general comments that rare earth is one dangerous element, poses radioactivity, pollute our environment.


I just want to clarify this, rare earth elements (REE) are group of 17 metallic elements, which by itself doesn't pose any danger, which is as benign as other common metals we touch everyday. 


What is danger is actually the radioactive materials that are bound naturally with the REE, and occur in a wide range of mineral types. Examples of those radioactive materials are (its minerals in bracket) : Thorium (Monazite), Cerium (Allanite), and Uranium in Euxenite etc. There are at least 20 REE-bound minerals found in earth crust, about half of the list contains one of more radioactive materials that bound with REE and other substances such as phosphates, oxides, carbonates. 


So, instead of REE, I'd say it's the extracting/processing of radioactive-containing rare earth minerals, it's the wastes and by products, which are not safe.


Thanks for reading

Comparing what you see on the news, and what does that really mean to you

What they claimed?	What does it really mean to us?
“Vast job opportunity will be generated”	LAMP is not labour intensive and its processes primarily automated. Only total of 450 employees (including expatriate, skilled, unskilled) needed during full operation (ref: Malaysia-chronicle, 31st Mar 2011)
“skilled workers who will be given the best knowledge in the world on the processing of rare earths …” (ref: Malaysia Insider, 12th Apr 2011) “Technology / knowledge transfer” (ref: Preliminary EIA report, Environ)	Total rare earth reserves in Malaysia is merely 35,000 tonnes or 0.023% of world’s rare earth deposits (ref: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2008); Malaysia is not a conventional major rare earth producing country; we produced only 380 tonnes of REO in 2008 and 2009 (ref: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2010), thus transferring knowledge in rare earth process does not benefit the country considerably.
“LAMP to generate $1.7 billion, almost 1% of Malaysia annual GDP (2010)” (ref: NYTimes, 8th Mar 2011)	Malaysia offered 12 year tax free holiday to Lynas. The revenue generated from LAMP will be channeled to Australia and Lynas’ share holders
“the ratio of thorium to rare earth metals found in its concentrated raw material was 55 to 10,000 while the Bukit Merah operation had 12,000 parts thorium to every 10,000 parts of rare earth.” Lynas (ref: Malaysia Insider,12thApr 2011)	This comparison does show Thorium content was higher in Bukit Merah than in the Lynas FEED. However, this also suggest in order to produce 22,000 tonnes/yr of REO, the LAMP will generate a massive 120 tonnes of radioactive Thorium every year. (22000/10000 tonnes x 55 = 120 tonnes)
AELB demonstrated at Kuantan town hall, that Geiger counter reads low radioactivity at 0.2 mSv/hr from the rare earth process waste samples. (ref: Malaysia Insider,6thApr 2011)	LAMP has not begun production; source and authenticity of waste samples remain questionable. Further, radioactivity was measured based upon the minute amount of samples sealed in glass bottles, by which most Alpha radiation (emitted by Thorium) can be filtered away (ref: IAEA). This result does not signify the real circumstance of copious tonnage of Thorium compounds stored in Gebeng.
“The levels are absolutely different with Japan, no comparison. Even after 70 hours (of exposure to our waste), all you get is an x-ray…” Lynas. (ref: Malaysia Insider,12thApr 2011, interview with N.Curtis)	This claim based upon the radioactivity level of 0.2 mSv/hr.  An X-ray scan incurs c.a. 1.4 mSv = 0.2 mSv/hr x 70 hr (ref: Wikipedia). However, production of 120 tonnes Thorium compounds every year can release radioactivity exceptionally higher than just 0.2mSv/hr.
“at 1600 ppm, concentrates shipped to Malaysia was not considered radioactive materials.” Lynas and AELB	Note the 1600 ppm refers to the Thorium content in the FEED Minerals to LAMP (ref: Lynas; see page 1), not in the wastes.
“The radioactive level of Lynas residue is only is 1/300th of the Asian Rare Earth residue (6.7 Bq/g vs 1900 Bq/g).” (ref: M. James, Lynas Corporate Communications, Writestreet, 31st July 2009)	Our calculation shown 6.7 Bq/gram corresponds to 1600 ppm Thorium, again, referred to the Thorium content in the FEED Minerals to LAMP. It is incorrect Lynas to focus on radioactivity level of FEED but failed to clarify the radioactive Thorium-containing wastes, which will be stayed and stored in Gebeng, potentially for years.
AELB DG, Raja Aziz pointed out tighter controls the 1600ppm of thorium that Lynas had promised. Raja Aziz said “Lynas was confident of keeping thorium levels in its waste to 1600 ppm compared to the amang tin tailings used in Bukit Merah which produced 80 000 ppm of thorium in its waste. “ “You can just tabur (scatter) everywhere ” AELB DG.	As above, the 1600 ppm Thorium in FEED Mineral is being emphasised again. It is unwise AELB to give such remarks to create a false perception. Radioactive level may be low in the FEED Minerals, however after the REO is extracted, Thorium will be concentrated and subsequently disposed as waste. No comment being made by AELB on the radiation risk due to higher Thorium concentration in the wastes.
Lynas PLANS to mixed the iron-bound thorium with Lime, to dilute it to a thorium concentration of less than 500 parts per million (ppm) — the maximum permitted under international standards to allow the material to be disposed with few restrictions. However, Lynas admitted to not having a commercial application yet . (ref: Malaysia Insider,12thApr 11) Raja Aziz also said that Lynas must stay under 500 ppm of thorium in its waste product or be told to cease operations	How is this (Diluting and storing such vast amount of waste ) commercially and technically feasible remains in great doubt. LAMP will produce 120 tonnes of Thorium every year, if such quantity of Thorium has to be diluted to 500 ppm, an additional of 220,000 tonnes of waste to be generated every year!  It is extremely concerned if Lynas would practice this (Thorium dilution); and how 220,000 tonnes/yr of radioactive waste can be stored safely.
“It’s not that Lynas does not have the solution. The solution (storage dams) has been agreed. Now Lynas is going beyond the standards,” (ref: Malaysia Insider,12thApr 2011, interview with N.Curtis)	Lynas has not disclosed the technical details of the Thorium treatment, nor its storage system. All we know it is a “temporary” Tailing Storage Facilities on site that made of clay and HDPE, long term storage remained unresolved (ref: The Star Online, 11th Mar 2011). Without these details, the repeated reassurance of safe storage by Lynas remain dubious.
“We will not let them accumulate that much. We will stop them. They cannot be accumulating that much. There must be a parallel process” Raja Aziz, AELB (ref: Harakahdaily,19thApr)	Lynas has no detailed plan of disposal nor of recycling Thorium-compound wastes (ref: The Star Online, 12th Mar 2011). There is only one way to stop accumulating this waste, that is to stop the entire process.
Dr Ahmad Tarmizi, a UTM, says that thorium exists in the environment naturally. Lynas and AELB have also given a similar remark. (ref: The Star, 10th Apr 2011) "iron phospho gypsum" has a very low level of naturally occurring thorium which is the source of a very low level of radioactivity.” Lynas (ref: NST 14th Apr 2011)	It is irrelevant to quote the Thorium content in natural environment. For comparison, the average Thorium concentration in the Earth's crust amounts between 8 to 12 ppm (ref: Wikipedia); Thorium in Mt Weld mine is reportedly 400 ppm; Thorium in the Concentrates or FEED Minerals to LAMP is 1600 ppm (ref: Lynas). After REO is extracted from the FEED minerals, the Thorium concentration and its radioactivity is unquestionably greater than that occurred naturally in the soil, sand, earth crust etc.

Lynas rare earth process flow

1.Rare earth elements (REE) or Rare Earth Oxides (REO) occur as Monazite in nature, monazite is a phosphate mineral comprising mainly of the light REE especially Ce, La, Nd and Pr. The mineral also contains considerable amount of heavy REE such as Y and the radioactive element Thorium. These rare earth metals bind with PO4 to form Monazite (ref: Wikipedia). At once, the Monazite mineral and the soils, sand, rocks etc will be mined from Mt. Weld. The Mt. Weld mine deposits contain 8% - 12% of (REO) with approx. 400 ppm Thorium.

2.The Mt. Weld mine ore will be then transported to the Concentration Plant, where the mineral is separated from the unwanted soils, sand and rocks. The products from the concentration plant, also known as concentrates, is primarily the monazite mineral, contains approx. 40% REO with 1600 ppm Thorium. This product will be shipped from Australia to Gebeng, some 4000 km away, for further processing.

3.At LAMP, the aim of the process is to extract the 40% REO from the concentrates to produce the high purity REO. Other chemicals such as sulphuric acid, ammonia and magnesium hydroxide will be added to the process for extraction and purification of the rare earth metals.

4.What is in the waste sludge are mostly phosphates, gypsum, magnesium and Thorium compounds. Note 40% of the concentrates has been extracted as REO product, hence the Thorium concentration left in the waste is significantly higher than that of the concentrates,  Lynas failed to clarify the exact Thorium concentration in waste. In terms of quantity however, approx. 120 tonnes of Thorium will be produced from LAMP every year (ref: Malaysia Insider, 12th Apr 2011: Interview with N Curtis).

5.The final valuable REO products will then be exported to US, Europe and Japan, what left in Malaysia is the abundance of waste, including the radioactive Thorium-bound wastes, of which Lynas has no detailed plan for treatment, disposal and storage (ref: Malaysia Insider, 12th Apr 2011).

Why this blog

I never thought I'd write a blog, as I never been a good nor passion writer. So, why this blog if you ask me, I guess it would be to create a space in this virtual world, which allows me to give my personal view on current affairs, and to hear comments from you. Let it be political, science, social, economy, sports or daily gossip.


Kind regards