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Radioactive and Rare Earth Containing Materials in Beach Minerals of

Bangladesh: A SEM Study

Conference Paper · January 2020

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

Radioactive and Rare Earth Containing Materials in Beach Minerals of

Bangladesh: A SEM Study
Mohammad Rajiba, Chiaki T. Oguchib
a
Beach Sand Minerals Exploitation Centre, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Kalatoli, GPO Box-15, Cox’s Bazar-4700, Bangladesh

b
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255, Shimo Okubo, Sakura Ku, Saitama Shi, Saitama,
338-0825, Japan

Keyword: Radioactivity, Rare Earth Element, Monazite, Zircon, Beach Placers

Abstract
Beach placers of Bangladesh have been identified as radioactivity containing materials in several heavy minerals with
specific presence of uranium and thorium. Besides radioactive materials, heavy mineral like monazite contains several
rare earth elements (REE). Due to slight confusion among varieties of zircon and monazite in identifying under
polarized microscope, quantification of those minerals can be erroneous during sample analysis. The present paper
deals with the identification of specific zircon and monazite grains and thereafter, confirmation of few radioactive
elements and REEs present in those minerals using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. After accumulating
radioactive concentrate from bulk sand through specific flow charts for heavy mineral separation and upon
confirmation by portable radiation survey meters, the mineral grains were undergone polarized microscope and SEM
study for detail analysis. The analytical results will be useful in differentiation of zircon variety from monazites, as
well as identifying the REE containing minerals grains in various geological environment of Bangladesh. This will
facilitate the proper management of an important geo-resource of Bangladesh for potential economic utilization.

Introduction
Placer minerals deposited in the beaches of Bangladesh shows anomalous radioactivity than background. This
radioactivity is found to be related to the heavy mineral depositions (Zaman et al., 2009, Kabir, et al., 2010; Rajib et
al., 2019), which are due to the presence of monazite and uranium containing zircon grans (Zaman et al., 2008, 2012,
2016; Sasaki et al., 2015). However, due to the presence of many varieties of zircon (Corfu et al., 2003), it sometimes
becomes erratic to identify monazite grains using only polarized microscope. Although, utilization of only polarized
microscope is necessary for quick identification of minerals. Moreover, modern analytical facilities are not always
available for this purpose. Therefore, it is very much necessary to confirm and differentiate individual mineral grains.
In addition, considering the importance of zircon and monazite of being radioactive and rare earth element (REE)
containing minerals, proper identification of those grains is significant not only for beach placers, but also for fluvial
environment. The reason is the possibility of the presence of similar types of minerals in both environment of
deposition in Bangladesh (Zaman et al., 2010; Rajib et al., 2016).

Beach Sand Minerals Exploitation Center (BSMEC) of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is equipped
with several density, magnetic and electric separators and standard flow chart to separate few heavy minerals including
zircon. However, separation of monazite in bulk quantity is not possible with the similar process, although re-
processing of separated zircon assemblages resulted in a radioactive concentrate that includes more than 50% of
monazite grains (Sasaki et al., 2015, Fig. 1). Major and accessory heavy minerals were clearly identified from
Bangladesh beach placers with the help of polarized microscope (Kabir et al., 2006 a,b), which indicates that the
monazite grains in the radioactive concentrate resembles with a variety of zircon. Therefore, objective of the present
study is to analyze those separated grains using scanning electron microscope and identifying radioactive zircons from
the REE containing monazites.

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

Figure 1: Monazite grains (bottom) separated from zircon assemblages (top) of beach placers of Bangladesh;
adopted from Sasaki et al., 2015.

Methods
For separation of major heavy minerals in the laboratory, standard flow sheet was followed with small experimental
modification for upgradation of radioactive concentrate (as reported in Sasaki et al., 2015). The radioactivity of the
upgraded part was measured using a scintillation radiation survey meter (Model SMGE 12#090202) in counts per
minute (cpm). The survey meter was calibrated with 137Cs source. Processed mineral fractions were observed with a
petrographic microscope (MEIJI-ML 9000) and suitable photomicrographs were taken. Thereafter, scanning electron
microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS, JEOL JSM-5600LV) with the initial operating
condition of 20 kV, working distance 20 mm and spot size of 20 to take secondary electron image (SEI) was used to
analyze the mineral grains. In addition, chemical/elemental composition of the whole-area of the image as well as
single grain as micro-areal analysis. For SEM study, samples were undergone carbon coating.

Results and Discussion

The SEM images along with their corresponding chemical composition are provided below. It is to be noted that the
all the elements were chosen during the EDS study, so as to identify every element of interest. At each SEM image,
the corresponding composition of only elements of interest is presented. The tables show the presence of elements
like halfnium (Hf) and uranium (U) mostly in zircon rich samples, whereas throrium (Th) and REEs like celenium
(Ce), yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La) were found in grains which were observed as hazy under polarized light. These
grains were considered as monazite. The difference between most zircon grains can be easily distinguished by its
unique prismatic shape as well as transparent nature under polarized microscope, however the same under SEM are
shown as smooth surface (Fig 2). Similar featured grains with nearly rounded shapes were also observed for zircons,
however, almost all the monazite grains were found to be spherical. Some grains with angular shapes were also
observed with significant presence of REEs (Fig. 2, 3; Table 1).

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

Z
Z

Fig. 2 Verities of zircon with angular, semi to circular edges with smooth surfaces (top, left); Clear distinction
between zircon (Z) and monazite (M) (right); Al-Si-Fe rich mineral grain similar to monazite mineral (bottom)

Table 1: Elemental composition of the whole area

analysis of Fig. 3.
Elements a b
O 38.48 37.65
Na 0.29 0.23
Mg 1.35 1.03
Al 10.73 10.98
Si 14.34 11.97
P 1.25 2.69
S 0.09 0.12
(a) Cl 0.05
K 0.21 0.21
Ca 6.14
Ti 0.82 5.18
Mn 0.46 0.42
Fe 14.08 10.44
Y 0.19 0.60
Zr 2.46 4.21
La 1.45 2.42
Ce 2.92 7.02
Hf 3.89 2.50
Th 0.65 1.51
(b)
U 0.20 0.77
Fig. 3: Whole area analysis of REE concentrate wt%

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

It is observed that the potential REE concentrate separated from zircon assemblages is characterized by the presence
of lanthanum, cerium, yttrium, along with few percentages of thorium and uranium. Significant presence of hafnium
is also noticeable. These REEs, thorium and uranium are coming from monazite grains, whereas hafnium and uranium
are believed to be associated with zircon minerals. Since the area contains some other heavy mineral concentrates
accumulated mostly at the middle part of either magnetic or electric separators, presence of elements from rock
minerals along with titanium is evident (Fig. 3 and Table 1).

Cerium bearing monazite grain is found with smooth surface, similar like some circular shaped zircon grains, however,
is easily distinguished from elemental composition. Cerium is observed as the most abundant REE in both angular
and round shaped monazite grains, measured as high as 32%, whereas the next dominant being the lanthanum as 10%
(Fig. 4 and Table 3). Along with these REEs, thorium is found considerably higher than uranium content, indicating
thorium rich heavy minerals in Bangladesh environment. The microscopic study on the various inclusions showed the
materials of different composition. For example, inclusion in a zircon grain has Si-Fe rich composition, whereas a
monazite grain with more than 27% Ce content has mostly SiO 2 with significant hafnium (Fig. 5 and Table 3).

Fig. 4: Variety of REE containing monazite

Table 2: Chemical composition of the micro-area analysis of the grains of Fig. 4

Elements 1 2 3 4 5 6
O 46.89 31.49 33.72 44.92 34.14 31.42
Na 0.06 0.38
Mg 0.64 0.34
Al 0.38 1.31 1.80 8.72 1.86 3.01
Si 36.52 3.97 9.68 27.83 11.92 3.14
P 0.88 10.51 7.91 0.43 6.00 10.30
S 0.16 0.34 0.08
Cl 0.14 0.18
K 0.12 0.35 0.38 2.51 046 0.29
Ca 0.41 0.63 0.24 0.69 1.07
Ti 0.85 0.60 0.49 0.37 0.70 0.09
Mn 0.04 0.34
Fe 2.07 1.14 1.75 8.64 4.16 2.90
Y 1.63 3.32
Zr 0.62 3.79 3.47 2.57
La 1.94 10.09 8.09 0.60 5.25 9.98
Ce 3.39 32.51 31.79 0.45 28.79 24.74
Hf 5.05 0.53 1.31 3.91 1.85 0.45
Th 0.68 1.61 0.82 0.70 5.97
U 0.28 1.12 0.32
wt%

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Table 3: Chemical composition of the micro-area

analysis of Fig. 3.
Elements 1 2 3 4
O 33.62 38.44 29.71 50.20
Na 0.05 00.53 0.06
Mg 0.07 4.39 0.04 0.02
Al 7.68 0.85 0.49
Si 13.30 17.16 0.73 42.18
P 0.02 12.25 0.28
S 0.37 0.17 0.12 0.01
Cl 0.39 0.02
K 6.10 0.37
Ca 0.36 1.53 0.11
Ti 1.19
Mn 0.32
Fe 0.23 19.05 0.85 0.50
Y 3.51
Zr 48.93 1.30 1.78
La 11.73 0.13
Ce 27.82 0.33
Hf 2.83 2.89 5.37
Th 8.23
U 0.59 0.46 0.30
wt%

Fig. 6: Inclusion in zircon (middle) and monazite (bottom)

Conclusion
A quick study with major focus on identification of zircon and monazite grains was conducted with scanning electron
microscope. The physical characteristics were found to be quite distinguishable with smooth surface of zircon whereas
rough featured surface and angular shape grains were found to be REEs rich monazite. Under polarized light, monazite
grains were found to be hazy in nature, comparing to the transparent grains of zircon. Although smooth surfaced
monazite grains were also evident, but still can be clearly distinguished by the transparent features of zircon. These
features will be useful in identifying the minerals zircon and monazite during the polarized microscope study which,
eventually contribute to the quantification of those minerals in different depositional environment. As a result, this
will assist in the proper management of an important geo-resource of Bangladesh for potential economic utilization.

References
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and Geochemistry (2003) 53 (1): 469-500, https://doi.org/10.2113/0530469.

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 International Conference on Earth & Environmental Sciences and Technology https://iceest.info/

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