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Unlocking Turkey’s Rare Earth Potential: A Study on the Malatya/Kuluncak Deposit

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Highlights

  • Turkish researchers investigate Malatya/Kuluncak rare earth deposit with complex extraction challenges.
  • Aim to diversify global rare earth element (REE) production.
  • Initial tests showed modest improvements in rare earth oxide concentration.
  • Low recovery rates and mineral liberation issues persist.
  • Study represents a critical first step in Turkey’s strategy to establish a domestic rare earth mineral supply chain.
  • Further technological advancements are required.

In a detailed study led by Burakhan Ersoy (opens in a new tab) from Istanbul Technical University (opens in a new tab) (ITU), researchers investigate the Malatya/Kuluncak rare earth elements (REE) deposit in Turkey, aiming to determine how effectively these critical minerals can be extracted and processed. With China dominating over 95% of global REE production, nations like Turkey are ramping up exploration to diversify supply sources. This study is part of a broader effort by Turkey’s National Rare Earth Elements Institute (NATEN) to assess the feasibility of domestic REE extraction.

The piece was published via ITU in 2023.

Key Findings – The Mineral Challenge

The study revealed that the Malatya/Kuluncak ore contains 0.33% total rare earth oxides (TREO), or 3,268 ppm—a relatively low grade by global standards. Silicate minerals dominate the ore, making extraction complex, as over 70% of the material consists of gangue (waste) minerals. The research focused on how different beneficiation techniques—including gravity separation (shaking table), magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, and advanced centrifuge methods like the Knelson concentrator—could concentrate the REEs and improve their recovery rates.

Breakthroughs and Limitations

Initial tests using gravity and magnetic separation improved the TREO concentration from 3,626 ppm to as high as 8,323 ppm. However, recovery rates were low due to poor mineral liberation, meaning REE-bearing minerals were still locked within the ore’s structure even at fine particle sizes. Electrostatic separation proved ineffective, aligning with existing literature on similar deposits.

More advanced methods, including the Knelson concentrator and Multi-Gravity Separator (MGS), were tested on ultrafine particles (-74 µm size fraction). These techniques achieved modest improvements, with REE concentrations rising from 3,480 ppm to 5,983 ppm, though recovery rates remained limited due to the small sample sizes available for testing. The study suggests that optimizing processing parameters and using larger feed samples could enhance results in future research.

Is This Deposit Viable?

The study highlights both promise and challenges. On the positive side, the Malatya/Kuluncak deposit represents a potential domestic REE source for Turkey, contributing to strategic independence from China. However, the low initial REE grade, difficulty in mineral liberation, and complex processing requirements raise doubts about its economic feasibility.

Future studies will need to refine beneficiation techniques, explore chemical processing methods, and scale up testing to determine if this deposit can compete with existing REE sources. The research is a critical first step in Turkey’s broader strategy to establish a rare earth supply chain, but significant investment and technological advancements will be required to make extraction commercially viable.

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