HOUSTON, March 25th (Argus) - US rare earth producer Energy Fuels announced on Wednesday that it has produced the first batch of 99.9% pure terbium oxide at its White Mesa Mill in Utah.
Energy Fuels conducts pilot-scale production of terbium oxide using monazite mined in Florida and Georgia. According to the company, the production of this high-purity terbium oxide is "the first time in decades" that the United States has produced from its main mineral raw materials.
According to Energy Fuels, the company's high-purity terbium oxide meets the specifications of rare earth magnet manufacturers.
In addition to the pilot-scale production of terbium oxide, the company also produced the first batch of dysprosium oxide at the site in August. So far, it has produced nearly 30 kilograms of 99.9% pure dysprosium oxide.
Energy Fuels aims to expand its heavy rare earth production in the coming years. It is expected that after the earliest completion of the second-stage cycle in 2029, its capacity will reach 288 tons/year of dysprosium oxide, 80 tons/year of terbium oxide, and 6,000 tons/year of praseodymium-neodymium oxide.
