Assessing advanced rare earth element-bearing deposits for industrial demand in the EU

This article examines proposed REE-product volume supply from six advanced rare earth-bearing mineral exploration projects, two of which in Greenland, for REE demand by industrial users in the EU. A methodology is developed which draws on supply chains and published feasibility studies, emphasizing timely data certainty as significant factor of exploration project feasibility. For 2014, our findings for the Greenlandic project exploration proposals reveal that Kvanefjeld would significantly exceed EU demand except for Eu, on which it would undersupply. In contrast, Kringlerne would undersupply on La, Ce and Pr, oversupply on Nd and Y, and on all heavy REE with the exception of Eu. Various disparities between the proposed REE supply from Australian, Canadian and South African projects and EU demand in 2014 are also noted. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.