An Excel workbook consisting of obtained sample information as well as their individual analysis results of REE concentrations (on a whole-sample and percent ash basis). Sample material was obtained from multiple sources including state geological survey cores, mine and coal processing facilities and coal fired power plant sites. Sample identification, descriptions of material and coal value chain REE recovery opportunity categories are included to facilitate the organization and filtering of data. [Download File]

University of Alaska report supporting washability data and REE distributions. [Download File]

University of Alaska report providing results of investigation of rare earth elements in selected coal and power plant byproduct samples from Alaska. Washability, wet high intensity magnet separation and flotation results and REE distributions are included for these samples. [Download File]

Workbook providing washability data and REE concentration data for samples collected from coal preparation plants by the University of Kentucky and analyzed by commercial laboratories. There are four streams analyzed at each facility; namely, raw coal(input), clean coal(output), coarse reject(output) and fine reject(output). Additionally, flow rates based upon plant observations are calculated and displayed beginning in cell 'AN64' on a whole sample and %Ash basis. The data consistently indicates that the highest concentrations are found in the primarily coal matter that floats at 1.6 with additional high concentration in surrounding specific gravity fractions. [Download File]

This file is a spreadsheet showing the results of washability analyses from 19 different coal preparation plants. Plant streams that were sampled and analyzed include raw coal, fine reject, coarse reject, and clean coal. These bench-scale tests were performed to examine the potential for improved partitioning of REEs that might be feasible in such small particle size fractions where coal and mineral matter constituents might be better liberated from each other. [Download File]

This file is a spreadsheet showing the results of multi-gravity separation testing. Each stream was separated into multiple particle size fractions, and each fraction was subjected to washability analysis at various specific gravities. Each specific gravity fraction was analyzed for ash content and a suite of 16 REEs. The REE data are presented both as concentrations of the whole coal material and of just the ash content. In addition, average REE data for what might be found in the earth’s crust is provided as a reference. A multi-gravity separator is device that is specially designed to separate fine particles on the basis of their specific gravity using centrifugal force. [Download File]

This file is a spreadsheet showing the results of oil agglomeration testing. In oil agglomeration, a small amount of an oil-like substance is mixed with a fine coal slurry, and the oil selectively coats and collects, or “agglomerates,” the coal particles from the mineral matter particles so that the two can be separated. Each stream was separated into multiple particle size fractions, and each fraction was subjected to washability analysis at various specific gravities. Each specific gravity fraction was analyzed for ash content and a suite of 16 REEs. The REE data are presented both as concentrations of the whole coal material and of just the ash content. In addition, average REE data for what might be found in the earth’s crust is provided as a reference. [Download File]

Magnetic test data tables for LTI report on representative 28 x 100 mesh and -100 mesh samples of Fire Clay Hazard No. 4 Coal Seam and Fire Clay Hazard No. 4A Coal Seam coarse refuse, Eagle Seam coarse refuse, Pittsburgh Coal Fines and Texas Lignite Partings. [Download File]

Riffle test data tables for LTI report on representative 28 x 100 mesh and -100 mesh samples of Fire Clay Hazard No. 4 Coal Seam and Fire Clay Hazard No. 4A Coal Seam coarse refuse, Eagle Seam coarse refuse, Pittsburgh Coal Fines and Texas Lignite Partings. [Download File]

Spreadsheet of Texas lignite washability data for parting samples with REE analyses. [Download File]

Revised washability data for LTI Report for riffle table tests and magnetic separation tests. [Download File]

The University of Kentucky conducted a study to evaluate the potential to concentrate rare earth elements (REEs) that exist in coal and coal byproducts using existing physical cleaning methods and technologies. The investigation involved the collection of six coal and coal byproducts samples from locations that were identified as having material with potentially elevated REE contents. A mineralogical study was conducted on selected samples from pre-concentration studies involving the use of SEM-EDS and ToF-SIMS. The potential for pre-concentrating REEs using density-based separators was found to be minimal which can be explained by the ultrafine grain sizes of the RE minerals. Froth flotation was found to be the only method of six evaluated that could be exploited to pre-concentrate REEs. A RE mineral release and concentration study was conducted on a sample collected from the middlings stream of an operating preparation plant treating Fire Clay seam coal. A survey of 20 coal preparation plants from which samples were segregated by particle size and density resulted in 771 samples that were analyzed for total REEs. Details of the above efforts are presented in this report along with accompanying data. [Download File]

University of Utah report tables providing results of washability, magnetic separation, and flotation separation analyses with REE concentration data for selected Western US and raw coal, refuse, and bottom ash/fly ash samples. [Download File]

The Pennsylvania State University conducted a study to evaluate the potential to concentrate rare earth elements (REEs) that exist in coal and coal byproducts. Samples were collected from surface mines in Pennsylvania as well as from various coal preparation plants and coal-burning power plants. The samples were selected out of collected materials that included overburden material (roof rock), pit cleanings from a coal surface mine, and two refuse materials from coal preparation plant refuse streams. The collected samples were prepared using standard mineral processing procedures and subjected to various separations procedures and characterization analyses including, gravity separation (float-sink/washability tests), magnetic separation methods, electrostatic separation methods and ion exchange-based leaching methods.
The collected samples and their derivatives from various separation/enrichment methods were analyzed for REE concentrations by multiple analytical techniques. The samples were also subject to proximate analysis.
[Download File]

University of Utah report providing results of washability, magnetic separation, and flotation separation analyses with REE concentration data for selected Western US raw coal, refuse, and bottom ash/fly ash samples. Recommendations for future investigations are included for the areas of mineralogical analysis, physical separation technologies, and chemical separation technologies. [Download File]

This report summarizes the results of the review and compilation of published information concerning the geology, geochemistry, and resource estimates of select coal basins in the United States, with emphasis on REEs. These data were evaluated with respect to criteria that could be useful in defining “sweet spots” of these metals in coals and associated waste rock and/or ash. To accomplish this, five western States (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Montana) and four eastern States (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky) were chosen for study. The United States Geological Survey (USGS Coal Quality (CoalQual) Database was used extensively in this evaluation. [Download File]

The report summarizes a study of the effectiveness of applying X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer analysis as a field screening method to rapidly and economically evaluate coal and coal waste products to determine their potential to contain rare earth elements (REE).
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This Excel workbook, consisting of multiple tabs, summarizes NETL R&IC (Research and Innovation Center (formerly ORD - Office of Research and Development) REE field sample inventory and analytical characterization results for coal and related by-product materials that were collected from different coal regions, in various stages of the process, at various organization locations. The focus of this study is to characterize the bulk elemental concentration and mineralogy of rare earth elements in all coals and coal by-product material including: mineral matter associated with coal, fly ash, bottom ash, and post-processing/post-use materials among others.

Samples and data were collected and reflected as screening for the best available materials for use as resource materials for potential separation and recovery of REEs.

The NETL FWP REE analyses are reported on an ash basis.

Sampling and analytical efforts were performed by the following team members: Evan Granite, Elliot Roth, Tracy Bank, and Pete Rozelle.

[Download File]

FOA 1202 researcher template file.

In order to maintain the NETL database's integrity, researcher's should do their best to accurately and precisely describe all information about the samples that is publicly releasable. Please send all user questions to NETLREEGROUP@Netl.doe.gov or contact your Federal Project Manager.

[Download File]

A user manual that gives step by step information on how to fill out each column within the Phase 1 - Task 2 Field Samples and Phase 1 - Separation - Processing tabs in the template spreadsheet.

[Download File]

FOA 1627 Phase 1 researcher template file.

In order to maintain the NETL database's integrity, researcher's should do their best to accurately and precisely describe all information about the samples that is publicly releasable. Please send all user questions to NETLREEGROUP@Netl.doe.gov or contact your Federal Project Manager.

[Download File]

FOA 1627 Phase 2 researcher template file.

In order to maintain the NETL database's integrity, researcher's should do their best to accurately and precisely describe all information about the samples that is publicly releasable. Please send all user questions to NETLREEGROUP@Netl.doe.gov or contact your Federal Project Manager.

[Download File]

A user manual that gives step by step information on how to fill out each column within the  Field Samples and Separation - Processing tabs in the template spreadsheet.

[Download File]

FOA 1718 researcher template file.

In order to maintain the NETL database's integrity, researcher's should do their best to accurately and precisely describe all information about the samples that is publicly releasable. Please send all user questions to NETLREEGROUP@Netl.doe.gov or contact your Federal Project Manager.

[Download File]

A user manual that gives step by step information on how to fill out each column within the Field Samples tabs in the template spreadsheet.

[Download File]

[Field Characterization Data] [Final Report]

[Field Characterization Data] [Final Report]

[Field Characterization Data] [Final Report]

[Field Characterization Data] [Final Report]

[Field Characterization Data] [Final Report]

RFP 10982 researcher template file.

In order to maintain the NETL database's integrity, researcher's should do their best to accurately and precisely describe all information about the samples that is publicly releasable. Please send all user questions to NETLREEGROUP@Netl.doe.gov or contact your Federal Project Manager.

[Download File]

A user manual that gives step by step information on how to fill out each column within the Results data tabs in the template spreadsheet.

[Download File]