Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Pr Content | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastnäsite Concentrate | 60-70% REO (4-5% Pr) | $8-15/kg REO | China (Bayan Obo), USA (Mountain Pass) | Easier to process than monazite |
| Monazite Concentrate | 55-65% REO (4-5% Pr) | $6-12/kg REO | Australia, India, Brazil, USA | Contains thorium (radioactive) |
| Ion-adsorption Clay | 0.05-0.2% REO | $40-80/kg REO | Southern China, Myanmar | High heavy REE content |
| Mixed RE Carbonate | 45-50% REO (4-5% Pr) | $12-20/kg REO | Various | Intermediate product |
Primary Ore Sources
Current Market Price (Pr₆O₁₁): $95-97/kg (June 2025) Major Ore Minerals: Bastnäsite (REECO₃F): Primary source globally - contains 4-5% Pr Monazite (REEPO₄): Secondary source - contains 4-5% Pr Ion-adsorption clays: Growing source in China - lower grade but easier processing 2025 Global Rare Earth Production: China: 210,000 MT REO (70% of global production) USA: 42,000 MT REO (MP Materials) Australia: 30,000 MT REO (Lynas) Myanmar: 35,000 MT REO Others: 33,000 MT REO Raw Material Form Grade/Pr Content Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Bastnäsite Concentrate 60-70% REO (4-5% Pr) $8-15/kg REO China (Bayan Obo), USA (Mountain Pass) Easier to process than monazite Monazite Concentrate 55-65% REO (4-5% Pr) $6-12/kg REO Australia, India, Brazil, USA Contains thorium (radioactive) Ion-ads
⚠️ Seawater Praseodymium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT VIABLE Concentration: ~0.0000006 ppm (extremely low) Status: No commercial seawater praseodymium extraction exists. Unlike lithium or magnesium, rare earth elements including praseodymium are present in seawater at concentrations far too low for economic extraction. Note: All commercial praseodymium production comes from mining rare earth minerals from hard rock or clay deposits.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Pr₆O₁₁ | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining & Beneficiation | $15-25 | 20-30% | Varies by ore type and location |
| Chemical Processing | $20-35 | 25-35% | Acid/alkali digestion, leaching |
| Separation (SX) | $25-40 | 30-40% | Solvent extraction cycles |
| Energy | $5-10 | 7-10% | Electricity and fuel |
| Labor & Overhead | $5-12 | 8-12% | Varies by country |
| Total Production Cost | $70-122 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $95-97/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining & Crushing | 20-30 MJ/kg | 10-15% | Diesel/Electricity | Drilling, blasting, crushing, grinding |
| Beneficiation & Concentration | 30-50 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Electricity | Flotation, magnetic separation, gravity separation |
| Chemical Treatment | 40-70 MJ/kg | 25-30% | Natural Gas/Steam | Roasting (500-700°C), acid/alkali digestion |
| Solvent Extraction | 50-80 MJ/kg | 30-35% | Electricity/Steam | Multiple SX cycles, mixing, phase separation |
| Precipitation & Calcination | 10-20 MJ/kg | 5-10% | Natural Gas | Oxalate precipitation, calcination (800-900°C) |
Bastnäsite Processing Route
Roasting: 500-700°C to oxidize Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺ HCl Leaching: Dissolves trivalent REEs including Pr Solvent Extraction: 20-50 stages for Pr separation Precipitation: As oxalate or carbonate Calcination: 800-900°C to form Pr₆O₁₁
Monazite Processing Route
Alkali Digestion: 70% NaOH at 140-150°C Thorium Removal: Selective precipitation Acid Dissolution: HCl or HNO₃ Solvent Extraction: Similar to bastnäsite route Final Processing: To oxide form
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Praseodymium Oxide | Pr₆O₁₁ | 1021.44 g/mol | 99.5-99.99% | $95-97 | Magnets, ceramics, glass |
| Praseodymium Metal | Pr | 140.91 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $180-250 | Alloys, magnets |
| Praseodymium Fluoride | PrF₃ | 197.90 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $120-180 | Optical materials, lasers |
| Praseodymium Chloride | PrCl₃·6H₂O | 355.36 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $80-120 | Catalysts, chemical synthesis |
| Praseodymium Nitrate | Pr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 435.01 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $75-110 | Catalysts, glass coloring |
| Praseodymium Carbonate | Pr₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O | 605.96 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $85-115 | Ceramics, catalysts |
| Pr-Nd Oxide (75:25) | (Pr,Nd)₂O₃ | ~329 g/mol | 99.5% | $55-57 | NdFeB magnets |
| Praseodymium Acetate | Pr(CH₃COO)₃ | 318.04 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $150-220 | Catalysts, research |
| Nano Pr₆O₁₁ Powder | Pr₆O₁₁ | 1021.44 g/mol | 99.9% | $250-500 | Advanced ceramics, catalysts |
| Praseodymium Sulfate | Pr₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O | 714.12 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $70-100 | Chemical processing |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| China Northern Rare Earth | Pr oxide, metal, compounds, Pr-Nd oxide | World's largest integrated rare earth producer |
| China Minmetals Rare Earth | Pr oxide, fluoride, separated products | Southern China ion-adsorption clays |
| Shenghe Resources | Pr oxide, mixed RE products | Integrated supply chain, minority stake in MP Materials |
| Xiamen Tungsten | Pr compounds, high-purity products | Downstream rare earth products |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lynas Rare Earths | Pr oxide, Pr-Nd oxide, separated products | Largest RE producer outside China, Malaysia processing |
| Iluka Resources | Monazite concentrate (contains Pr) | Developing Eneabba RE refinery |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| MP Materials | RE concentrate, developing separated products | Mountain Pass mine, building separation capacity |
| Energy Fuels | Mixed RE carbonate (contains Pr) | Processing monazite from mineral sands |
| USA Rare Earth | Planning separated products | Developing Round Top project in Texas |
🇲🇲 Myanmar
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Various small producers | Mixed RE concentrate | Ion-adsorption clay mining, exports to China |
🇻🇳 Vietnam
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Rare Earth JSC | RE concentrates, planning separation | Dong Pao deposit development |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Serra Verde | Planning mixed RE products | Ion-adsorption clay project |
Market trends
Price Volatility: Prices for NdPr have fallen from $60-63/kg in January 2024 to $55-57/kg in December 2024 China Dominance: China controls 70% of global mining and 87% of processing capacity Supply Chain Diversification: MP Materials producing 1,300 tons of NdPr oxide in 2024, targeting 1,000 tons of magnets by end of 2025 Export Controls: China imposed export restrictions on rare earth processing technology and heavy rare earths EV Market Growth: Driving 8-10% annual growth in NdFeB magnet demand Recycling Initiatives: Growing focus on magnet recycling from end-of-life products Price Outlook: Analysts expect prices to remain volatile until inventories are reduced and Chinese economy strengthens New Capacity: Lynas achieved first dysprosium production outside China in May 2025
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praseodymium Metal | Pr | 140.91 | 7.10 |
| Praseodymium(III,IV) Oxide | Pr₆O₁₁ | 1021.44 | 0.98 |
| Praseodymium Fluoride | PrF₃ | 197.90 | 5.05 |
| Praseodymium Chloride (hydrated) | PrCl₃·6H₂O | 355.36 | 2.81 |
| Praseodymium Nitrate (hydrated) | Pr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 435.01 | 2.30 |
| Praseodymium Carbonate (hydrated) | Pr₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O | 605.96 | 1.65 |
References
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