Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals

NEODYMIUM (Nd)

Neodymium is one of the rare earth elements (REE) and has no detrimental environmental impact.

Geologic Distribution: Neodymium generally occurs in minor amounts in the mineral monazite. Monazite was found in trace amounts in 22 of 24 coal samples examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in an unpublished study by the WVGES and probably is present in most coals. Mean Nd in West Virginia on a whole coal basis was 8.65 ppm. Neodymium correlated poorly with ash yield and ash related elements such as vanadium (V), zirconium (Zr), chromium (Cr), thorium (Th), lithium (Li), scandium (Sc), lead (Pb) and gallium (Ga). Neodymium also correlated with several REE present in monazite, especially gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), cerium (Ce), europium (Eu), samarium (Sm) and lanthanum (La) plus yttrium (Y).. Neodymium displayed no stratigraphic or areal distribution trends.

Economic Impact: Neodymium in coal is of no economic importance. Neodymium is a component in misch metal, a pyrophoric alloy used in lighter flints, Nd is also used to color welder's goggles and other glass ¹.

Environmental Impact: Neodymium is not regarded as harmful to the environment ².

References:
1. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
2. Swaine, D.J., (1990)

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