Exploring Terbium Distribution in Basanite, Monazite and Xenotime: Geological Perspectives and Applications

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs), particularly terbium, are essential for modern technology, renewable energy, and strategic industries. To obtain this element, it is crucial to explore different rocks and mine it effectively, making the investigation of terbium's geological origins important. Terbium is predominantly found in geological settings such as alkaline igneous rocks, carbonatites, and hydrothermal veins, within minerals like bastnasite, monazite, and xenotime. Its incorporation into these minerals is influenced by magmatic differentiation, hydrothermal alteration, and metamorphic processes. The crystal chemistry of these minerals facilitates terbium's substitution for other REEs due to similar ionic radii and charges, modulated by the geochemical environment during formation. Terbium predominantly exists in the +3 oxidation state, which is more stable and common, whereas the +4 state, found in Tb4O7, is commercially significant. In carbonatite magmas, terbium substitutes for other REEs in bastnasite during crystallization. Monazite forms through magmatic and sedimentary processes, accumulating in igneous, metamorphic, and placer deposits. Xenotime, found in pegmatites and granites, incorporates terbium during high-temperature crystallization and within high-grade metamorphic rocks. Bastnasite and monazite deposits are found in the southern and western parts of India, whereas xenotime deposits are situated in Australia and Sweden. Terbium's magnetic, luminescent, and catalytic properties are indispensable for industrial applications. The absence of terbium would hinder technological progress, limiting advancements towards a sustainable, energy-efficient future. Ensuring a stable terbium supply and adopting responsible resource management practices are essential for sustaining technological innovation and effectively addressing global challenges.