technical report on the nechalacho deposit, thor lake project ...

Figure 2-2
Project Sites, Thor Lake and Pine Point
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS
Rare earth elements comprise 15 lanthanide series elements in the periodic table (atomic
numbers 57 through 71), and yttrium (atomic number 39). The locations of the rare earth
elements and other products of the PFS are shown in the periodic table in Figure 2-3. The rare
earth elements are divided into two groups:
• The Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) or cerics, comprising of Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, and Sm,
and
• The Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) or yttrics, comprising of Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho,
Er, Tm, Yb and Lu
Those elements possessing an even atomic number tend to more plentiful than their oddnumbered
neighbours and are preferred for commercial use. Despite their name, rare earths
have a relatively high crustal abundance. However, economic concentrations of rare earth
deposits are scarce. Chemical data for the rare earth elements are shown in Table 2-1.
Technical Report 43-101 – March 13, 2011 Page 2-3
Prepared by Avalon Rare Metals Inc.