Government decision now pending; technical processing questions remain.
The Norra Kärr mineral deposit in southern Sweden could help secure a reliable supply of rare earth elements for European industry, according to mining company Leading Edge Materials (LEM). For several years, the Canadian group has been seeking approval to begin mining operations at the site. Following revisions to the project plan, LEM has reported progress: the Swedish mining authority Bergsstaten has reviewed the application for an exploitation concession submitted by the company’s subsidiary, Greenna Mineral AB, and forwarded it to the Swedish government for final consideration.
According to LEM, the Norra Kärr deposit contains a particularly high concentration of heavy rare earth elements. Most of these elements are bound within the mineral Eudialyte. However, metallurgical processing and economically viable extraction of rare earths from this mineral are technically complex. As a result, the necessary processing methods remain the subject of ongoing research and development.
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