Mount Weld mine
Mount Weld mine is a rare earth mine in Western Australia, located about south of Laverton and east of Leonora. It is owned by Lynas Corporation. Mining began at the Mount Weld site in 2011.
Geology
Rare-earths are contained in secondary phosphates and aluminophosphates, presumably derived from weathering of the Proterozoic Mount Weld carbonatite. The primary commercial interest at the site is targeted towards oxides as well as further niobium and tantalum deposits within the intrusive pipe of the Mount Weld carbonatite, which is approximately in diameter.The main deposits are hosted within the soil and regolith horizon that blankets the entire carbonatite and form shallow lenses within of the surface. The most important rare-earth oxide deposit, the Central Lanthanide Deposit, CLD, discovered in 1988, is located at the centre of the carbonatite, with the niobium/tantalum and other deposits generally located towards outer fringes.
it was one of the largest rare earth deposits in the world.