Search is on For ‘Rare Earth’ in Caribbean National Park
 

Search is on For ‘Rare Earth’ in Dominican Rep. National Park

26 Dec 2014
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Hoyo de Pelempito canyon, at Sierra de Bahoruco.


Santo Domingo.- The National Geologic Service (SGN), the Higher Education Ministry and universities from Spain and the US on Friday announced today that starting January the search for "rare earth" ores in Sierra de Bahoruco, southwestern Pedernales province.


The name rare earth stems from the actinides and lanthanides elements that have similar ionic radii and are minerals nearly impossible to separate, for which they "rarely" used until now.


"Bauxite is the first global source of aluminum. Many of its deposits, accumulated over carbonate rocks, may be relatively rich in rare earth elements," they said of the project which has piqued the interest of local and international in exploiting for the minerals, which include uranium.


Quoted by local media, the researchers said the project aims to investigate the presence of rare earth in Sierra de Bahoruco’s bauxite, a process they note would take about four years of exploration.


"The proposed study would be the first of its kind in the Caribbean region. The results would be of great value to the Dominican Republic, therefore the assessment of bauxite’s potential economic impact as a source of high-tech metals, as well as the results scientific impact of," said lead investigator Australia Ramírez, quoted by hoy.com.do.