About this Research Topic
Knowledge of the mineralogy of CRMs is vital in developing efficient and sustainable mineral processing procedures. This is largely due to the complex distribution of CRMs in nature. For example they can occur as minor (100 to 1,000 ppm) components in some minerals (e.g. germanium in sphalerite), or as major (>1,000 ppm) components in others (e.g. lithium in spodumene). Information on the liberation potential of CRMs from these minerals enables mineral processers to target and separate CRMs with appropriate extraction procedures. An understanding of CRM mineralogy can also aid in creating ore deposit models for exploration, and in predicting the potential environmental impacts of mining and processing waste materials. Taking this complexity into account, along with the dramatic increase in demand for CRMs in the coming decades, significant advances are being made in characterising the mineralogy of many CRMs. Given the growing importance of CRMs, this Research Topic aims to bring together Original Research on state-of-the-art techniques used to characterise CRM-bearing minerals to develop ore deposit models, guide mineral processing procedures and improve environmental prediction.
We welcome contributions on CRM mineral geochemistry, including (but not limited to) the following themes:
- Novel techniques for characterising CRM mineral geochemistry;
- Deportment of CRMs in minerals;
- Atomistic modelling of CRM uptake and occurrence in minerals;
- CRM mineralogy in development of ore deposit models and exploration programmes;
- Prediction of the environmental impact of CRM-bearing wastes;
- Mineral processing of CRM-bearing ores.
Keywords: Critical Raw Materials, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Mining, Sustainability
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.