Evaluation of rare earth and some rare elements and their environmental impact in their mining area in northern Sudan

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the amount of rare earth and rare elements in Albir mining area , which located about 84 km southWadi Halfa on Northern Sudan. Because of the great geological diversity of elements in Sudan, many rare elements were detected. The present work is the first study to evaluate rare earth elements and lithium in Sudan using a number of instrumental techniques, including a flame photometry, X-rays fluorometry (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gamma spectrumetry. Results show that The concentration range (ppm) for Sc ( 0.5 – 64.135), Y (1,23- 159.139), for La( 0.8 – 243,651) , Ce (5.99 – 590.139), Nd (0.3 – 387.395) , Sm( N.D - 75.848) , Yb (N.D – 4.126), Ta (N.D – 95) , W (1.18 -377.869) , Nb( 0.06 – 24.129 ) , Sn (N.D – 7.6), Li (20 -770 ). The estimated ore reserves for each of the rare-earth elements, rare elements and lithium were found to be of economic value, and estimated to be 5.000 tons, 3.800 tons and15.000 tons, respectively . It's considered to be of economic value. Two samples of water as well as soil samples were collected and analysed to ensure that underground water in the mining area and adjacent area was not polluted. It was found that the underground water was suitable for human consumption. Thorium and uranium samples were also analysed to determine their radioactivity which was found to lie with in the normal range ; thus radioactive environmental impact were absent.