System and method for processing of minerals containing the lanthanide series and production of rare earth oxides

A system for the processing of minerals of the lanthanide series and the production of rare earth oxides, comprising:

• at least one feed hopper and at least one filter for the reception and conditioning of raw material;
• a plurality of mixing and reaction devices in which the raw material is contacted with a stream of desorbent solution provided against a stream flow of said raw material for the desorption of valuable product;
• at least one solid settler for the separation of fine solids;
• a secondary minerals precipitation chamber and at least one settler for the precipitation of secondary minerals through the use of a first reactive solution;
• a rare earth carbonates precipitation chamber and at least one settler for precipitation of the rare earth carbonates through the use of a second reactive solution;
• and
• at least one drying oven and at least one calcination oven for drying and calcination of the rare earth carbonates to obtain rare earth oxides,
• wherein the system further comprises a secondary system that allows further processing of residual mineral, and
• at least one dewatering table in contact with a water stream for the dewatering and washing of the residual mineral wherein the residual mineral is washed and a lanthanide-containing liquid is recovered.