DYSPROSIUM IN NATURE

• Research suggests dysprosium is found in nature as trace elements in minerals like      monazite, xenotime, and bastnäsite, not in pure form.
• It seems likely that dysprosium constitutes 0.1–7% of rare earth content in these minerals,      varying by deposit.
• The evidence  leans toward significant deposits in China, Australia, and the U.S., with      no known deposits in Panama.

Dysprosium is a rare earth element that doesn’t exist freely in nature due to its reactivity. Instead, it’s found within specific minerals as part of their rare earth content. The main forms include:

• Monazite: A phosphate mineral where dysprosium makes up about 0.1–1% of the rare earths, found in beach sands and igneous rocks.
• Xenotime: A yttrium phosphate with higher dysprosium levels (up to 7–8%), often in Malaysia      and Australia.
• Bastnäsite: A  carbonate-fluoride mineral with lower dysprosium (0.05–0.5%), key in U.S.      deposits like Mountain Pass, California.
• Ion-Adsorption Clays: Found mainly in southern China, these clays hold dysprosium      adsorbed on minerals, up to 2–5% of rare earths.

Major deposits are in China (dominant, especially ion-adsorption clays), Australia (e.g., Mount Weld), and the U.S. (e.g., Round Top, Texas, and Mountain Pass). Panama has no known dysprosium deposits, relying on imports for any processing. 

This note provides a comprehensive examination of the natural forms in which dysprosium, a heavy rare earth element (REE) with atomic number 66, is found, focusing on its occurrence in minerals and geological deposits. The analysis is grounded in scientific literature, geological surveys, and industry reports, aiming to offer a detailed understanding for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers, with connections to your prior queries on dysprosium/terbium processing, MP Materials’ Merton model, Rice University’s expertise, and related topics.

Dysprosium is a silvery, metallic REE in the lanthanide series, known for its high magnetic susceptibility and use in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets for electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, and defense systems. Its crustal abundance is approximately 5.2 mg/kg, making it relatively rare compared to lighter REEs like cerium (60 mg/kg). Dysprosium is never found in its pure metallic form in nature due to its reactivity with water and air, always occurring as a trace constituent in various minerals, typically alongside other REEs and sometimes radioactive elements like thorium and uranium.

Dysprosium’s natural occurrence is characterized by its presence in specific mineral forms, each with varying concentrations and geographical distributions. Below is a detailed breakdown:

              1. Monazite: 

• Description: Monazite is  a phosphate mineral with the general formula (Ce, La, Nd, Th, Dy, RE)PO₄,  where dysprosium constitutes 0.1–1% of the total REE content. It is found       in placer deposits, beach sands, and igneous rocks, often associated with       thorium, complicating extraction due to radioactive byproducts.
• Characteristics: Dysprosium’s low concentration (0.1–1%) requires significant ore processing, but monazite is a primary source due to its widespread occurrence. It is       reddish-brown and resistant to weathering, making it suitable for placer mining.
• Locations: Significant  deposits include Australia (e.g., Mount Weld, operated by Lynas), Brazil, India, and the U.S. (e.g., Mountain Pass, CA, by MP Materials; Round Top, TX, by Texas Mineral Resources Corp.). 
• Relevance: Monazite’s  U.S. deposits (Round Top, Mountain Pass) are critical for domestic       supply, aligning with your query on MP Materials’ Merton model (low default risk, 0.21%) and DOE funding prospects (LPO@hq.doe.gov, 202-586-1262). 

           2. Xenotime: 

• Description: Xenotime is a yttrium phosphate mineral (YPO₄) rich in heavy REEs, with dysprosium constituting up to 7–8% of the REE content, higher than monazite. It is       often found in association with other heavy REEs like terbium and ytterbium, in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins.
• Characteristics: Xenotime’s higher dysprosium concentration makes it economically viable for heavy REE extraction, though deposits are less abundant. It is brownish-black       and resistant to chemical weathering.
• Locations: Major deposits are in Malaysia, Australia, and Brazil, with minor occurrences       in the U.S. (e.g., Idaho’s Diamond Creek). 
• Relevance: Xenotime’s heavy REE focus supports your interest in dysprosium/terbium processing, potentially involving Rice University’s Walter Chapman (wgchap@rice.edu,       713-348-4900) for separation optimization. 

           3. Bastnäsite: 

• Description: Bastnäsite is a carbonate-fluoride mineral ((Ce, La, Dy, RE)CO₃F), with dysprosium at lower levels (0.05–0.5% of REEs). It is a major source of light REEs       but contains significant dysprosium for U.S. operations.
• Characteristics: Bastnäsite is yellowish to reddish-brown, found in carbonatites and pegmatites, and is a key U.S. source due to its accessibility at Mountain Pass, CA.
• Locations: Dominant in China (Bayan Obo) and the U.S. (Mountain Pass, by MP Materials). 
• Relevance: MP Materials’ operations at Mountain Pass, processing bastnäsite, tie to       your Merton model analysis (low PD, strong asset value), supporting domestic REE supply chains. 

          4. Ion-Adsorption Clays: 

• Description: Dysprosium is found adsorbed onto clay minerals (e.g., kaolinite) in weathered granite deposits, particularly in southern China (e.g., Jiangxi Province). These clays can contain up to 2–5% dysprosium of the total REE content, easily leached with mild acids.
• Characteristics: Ion-adsorption clays are environmentally sensitive due to soil disruption       but offer high heavy REE yields, making them a target for processing innovations.
• Locations: Primarily in southern China, with minor deposits in Vietnam and Myanmar. No significant U.S. or Panama clay deposits are known. 
• Relevance: China’s dominance (87% processing) highlights U.S. reliance on alternative       sources, aligning with your query on Noem/Ratcliffe’s Texas connections for domestic security (e.g., Abbott’s Robert Black, 512-463-2000). 

          5. Trace in Other Minerals: 

• Description: Dysprosium is present in trace amounts in minerals like apatite, fluorite, zircon, fergusonite, gadolinite, euxenite, polycrase, and blomstrandine, but these are not economically viable for extraction due to low concentrations (<0.1% dysprosium).
• Characteristics: These minerals are secondary sources, often found in pegmatites or igneous rocks, and require advanced separation for recovery.
• Locations: Scattered globally, including U.S. pegmatites (e.g., Colorado), but not primary for       dysprosium. 
• Relevance: Relevant for research (e.g., Rice’s Chapman) but not commercial, supporting your interest in processing innovations. 

• Concentration and Abundance: Dysprosium’s crustal abundance is ~5.2 ppm, with concentrations in ores ranging from 0.01% to 7% of total REEs, depending on the mineral.  This low abundance necessitates large-scale mining and processing, as seen in MP Materials’ Mountain Pass operations (1,000 tons/year NdFeB magnets, including dysprosium).
• Major Deposits: China dominates with ion-adsorption clays and Bayan Obo (bastnäsite), producing ~95–98% of global dysprosium. Australia (Mount Weld, xenotime/monazite) and the U.S. (Round Top, Mountain Pass) are emerging, but Panama has no  known deposits, relying on imports for any processing. 
• Extraction Challenges: Dysprosium’s co-occurrence with radioactive thorium (e.g.,      monazite) and other REEs requires complex separation (e.g., solvent extraction, ion exchange), as outlined in your processing query, increasing costs (~$300–$500/kg oxide). 

 While dysprosium is typically associated with terrestrial minerals, it also occurs in trace amounts in the products of nuclear fission, as noted in some sources, though this is not economically viable for extraction. This detail highlights dysprosium’s broader geochemical presence, potentially relevant for nuclear applications (e.g., control rods), but not for commercial processing. 

 Research suggests dysprosium is found in nature as trace elements in minerals like monazite, xenotime, bastnäsite, and ion-adsorption clays, not in pure form, with concentrations varying from 0.05% to 7% of REE content. It seems likely that major deposits are in China, Australia, and the U.S., with no known deposits in Panama, aligning with your interest in domestic supply chains and processing innovations.