The aim of this book is to present recent achievements of in rare earth elements geology and mineralogy studies in China. The authors systematically describe all rare earth minerals and rare earth ore deposits discovered in China and their geological features. These rare earth minerals include huanghoite and baotite from China, as well as rare earth minerals from other parts of the world and new species and varieties discovered in China. For each mineral a systematic description of classification is given, such as chemical composition, crystallography and crystal structure, physical properties, X-ray powder data.

Rare Earth Elements (REE) as well as tantalum and niobium are of tremendous importance because of their specific high-technology applications. The contributions gathered in this volume give an up-to-date survey on the mineralogy, primary ore deposits, prospecting, processing and applications of REE, Ta, and Nd, making this volume a useful handbook for practitioners and students. Finally, the comprehensive coverage of the fundamental aspects, especially as regards REE as tracers of geological phenomena, will prove extremely helpful.