Phase Analysis of the Scandium-Containing Minerals and Prediction of the Presence of Scandium: Ferrocolumbite, Samarskite, Fergusonite

Sc is a common dispersed element in the crust, but the presence of Sc and scandium−containing minerals is also newly revealed, as the studies of pegmatites with high REE content have been intensified. In particular, the research on ferrocolumbite, samarskite and fergusonite has also been extensively studied. However, there are few studies comparing the crystalline structure of the Sc and sample preparation to perform phase analysis in these three minerals. Ores containing rare and rare earth elements, such as monazite, zircon, cassiterite, ferrocolumbite, samarskite, fergusonite and garnet, with quartz, feldspar and mica as the major minerals, were fractionated according to the mineral species by microscopy, and the phases were determined after calcination of ferrocolumbite, samarskite and fergusonite by X−ray fluorescence analysis, and the presence and presence of these minerals were compared with those of these minerals. Ferrocolumbite, a scandium−containing mineral, appears as a crystalline phase, whereas samarskite and fergusonite are amorphous phases, thus confirming the pre−calcination and post−calcination phase at 950℃. The Sc content was determined by XRF and atomic absorption spectrometry, and XRD structure analysis was carried out to predict the presence of Sc.