Clay vs Hard Rock
| Advantages of clay deposits | Clay REE | Hard Rock REE |
|---|---|---|
| Project location Geographic distribution of resources and production | Dominated by Asia, specifically China and Myanmar | Mainly China, also projects in Australia and the U.S. of America |
| Element composition Rare earth element assemblage and concentration | Both light (Nd and Pr) and heavy (Tb and Dy) rare earth elements typically exist | Predominately light rare earth elements (Nd, Pr) |
| Extraction intensity Relative operating costs | Low cost | High cost |
| Exploration dynamics Cost and time | Inexpensive aircore drilling into soft sedimentary material for swift exploration | Costly, hard rock diamond drilling required for slower, expensive exploration |
| Mine development Capital expense | Low capital expense Shallow deposits, progressive mining and rehabilitation | High capital expense Large open pit with large operating fleet and costly closure |
| Processing Style and environmental impact | Simple, proven, low acid metallurgy with inert tailings and solvent recycling | Complex metallurgy, high temperatures and pressures, strong acids and often radioactive tailings |