Geochemical Study of Rare Earth Elements (REE) Distribution in Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia: Correlation between Physical Appearance and Geochemical Composition

¹ Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kampus Jeli, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia.
² Tropical GeoResources & Hazards Research Group, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia.

^* Corresponding author: roniza@umk.edu.my

Abstract

The application of rare earth elements (REE) in green technology has been rapidly expanded worldwide and demand for REE increased accordingly. Most REEs are mined from ion adsorption clay (IAC) which is claimed can be easily extracted and environmentally safe. REE was released within the soil profile and absorbed on the surfaces of the clay minerals. The aim of the study is to correlate the physical appearance and geochemical composition of REE in soil of Jeli, Kelantan. Petrography and geochemical methods were used to identify the characteristics of IAC samples that have been collected. According to the petrography, REE-bearing minerals such as monazite can be identified in sample JL17 which represents bedrock of granite found in Ayer Lanas. Elemental analysis and mineral identification in soil samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) proving the samples are from clay association. Based on Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) analysis, JL17, JL2 and JL19 contain high REE concentration ranged from 8000 to 200 ppm. Both samples have shared almost similar physical appearance in terms of reddish colour and fine-grain sized.