The Potential for REE and Associated Critical Metals in Karstic Bauxites and Bauxite Residue of Montenegro

Research for critical raw materials is of special interest, due to their increasing demand, opulence of applications and shortage of supply. Bauxites, or bauxite residue after alumina extraction can be sources of critical raw materials (CRMs) due to their content of rare earth elements and other critical elements. Montenegrin bauxites and bauxite residue (red mud) are investigated for their mineralogy and geochemistry. The study of the CRM's potential of the Montenegrin bauxite residue after the application of Bayer process, is performed for the first time. Montenegrin bauxites, (Jurassic bauxites from the Vojnik-Maganik and Prekornica ore regions from the Early Jurassic, Middle Jurassic-Oxfordian and Late Triassic paleorelief) are promising for their REE's content (around 1000 ppm of sigma REE's). More specifically, they are especially enriched in LREEs compared to HREEs. Regarding other CRMs and other elements, Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Sr and Ga could also be promising. In bauxite residue, the contents of Zr, Sr, V, Sc, La, Ce, Y, Ti and Nb are higher than those in bauxites. However, raw bauxites and bauxite residue as a secondary raw material can be considered as possible sources of CRMs.

Automated summary

Research on Montenegrin bauxites and bauxite residue suggests that they could be potential sources of critical raw materials due to their content of rare earth elements and other critical elements. The study also indicates promising levels of LREEs compared to HREEs, as well as potential enrichment in Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Sr, and Ga. Additionally, the contents of Zr, Sr, V, Sc, La, Ce, Y, Ti, and Nb in bauxite residue are found to be higher than those in raw bauxites, making them possible sources of CRMs.