Pre-concentration of rare earth minerals from graphite ore tailings: A case study from Shivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India

• Evaluated rougher tailings potential for beneficiation from low-grade graphite ore. • Significant cerium and other light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment observed. • REE concentrations attained in both magnetic and non-magnetic table heavies. • TREEs were up to three times higher in the table heavies according to analysis. • The feasibility of graphite ore tailings as a secondary REE source is demonstrated. The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals has intensified mining activities, resulting in large volumes of mine tailings and associated environmental concerns. Simultaneously, the depletion of primary REE resources necessitates the exploration of sustainable secondary sources. This study investigates the beneficiation potential of rougher tailings derived from the Shivaganga graphite deposit, predominantly composed of iron oxides and silicate gangue minerals, with notable cerium enrichment relative to graphite concentrates. Physical beneficiation revealed preferential concentration of REEs in the heavy fractions of both magnetic and non-magnetic products. High-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) analysis showed significant enrichment of total rare earth elements (TREEs) in magnetic (388.1 ppm) and non-magnetic (427.8 ppm) fractions compared to the original ore (137.3 ppm). The REE distribution was dominated by light rare earth elements (LREEs), including lanthanum, neodymium, scandium, and dysprosium. These findings demonstrate the potential of graphite tailings as a viable secondary REE resource, offering a pathway for waste valorization and reduced environmental impact. Future work will focus on hydrometallurgical extraction strategies for efficient REE recovery.