REE-Mineral Phases in Indian Red Mud from the East Coast Bauxite Deposit

Red mud is often considered a prospective secondary resource of rare earth elements (REE). The Indian red mud samples were characterized using XRD, WD-XRF, ICP-OES and SEM-EDS to study their REE mineralogy and REE content. A major fraction (77%) of the sample was below 45 µm, with total REE content of 433 ppm. There was an enrichment of LREE over HREE, and La, Ce, Nd and Sc were the main contributors to the total REE value. REE-bearing minerals like monazite and zircon occurred as discrete mineral phases in the bauxite residue.