Russian scientists make new critical mineral discovery

A RARE-EARTH rich mineral has been discovered by a team of Russian scientists in Kola Peninsula in Russia, emboldening the country’s critical mineral growth efforts.

Researchers from St Petersburg State University, the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Fersman Mineralogical Museum made the discovery of the new mineral, calling it Kola Ashcroftine.

The mineral has been found to contain yttrium, silicon, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, fluorine and various rare-earth elements, making it a very rare find.

Due to its rarity, researchers from the discovery say that the unique structure of the mineral would make it useful for ion-exchange processes and a benefit to a wide range of industries, including water purification, pharmaceuticals and nuclear energy.

According to Sergei Krivovichev, director general of the Kola Science Center, the crystal structure of the mineral is based on silicate nanotubes topologically linked to a zeolite framework, and is among less than 3.5% of the most complex minerals known to science.

The discovery could be a step in the right direction for Russia’s expansive rare-earth elements (REE) business. Despite sanctions, it is a lifeline for the EU’s critical mineral demand. Last year, Russia made up a quarter of the EU’s rare-earth imports.

Russia has developed a roadmap to expand its rare-earth mining and refining capabilities by exploiting its own vast reserves. Despite having the second largest reserves of REE, the country imports 90% of its REE, mostly from China.

Facing the same competitive bottlenecks as the US and Europe with China’s critical mineral dominance, Russia’s roadmap aims to increase REE production by 3,000 t/y by 2030 to meet future demand.