en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers from St Petersburg State University, the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Fersman Mineralogical Museum have discovered a new mineral on the Kola Peninsula in Russia, named Kola Ashcroftine. This mineral is rich in rare-earth elements and represents a rare find.

The study shows that this mineral contains yttrium, silicon, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, fluorine, and various rare-earth elements—a combination of elements that is uncommon in nature.

Sergei Krivovichev, Director of the Kola Science Center, noted that the crystal structure of Kola Ashcroftine is based on silicate nanotubes, topologically linked to zeolite frameworks. Among minerals known to science, such structures rank among the most complex, accounting for less than 3.5%. Given this rarity and structural uniqueness, the research team believes the mineral could be used in ion-exchange processes, benefiting industries such as water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and nuclear energy.

This discovery could mark a step in the right direction for Russia's burgeoning rare-earth element (REE) industry. Russia holds the world's second-largest rare-earth reserves, yet relies on imports for 90% of its rare earths, primarily from China. Despite sanctions, Russia remains a lifeline for the EU's critical mineral needs, accounting for a quarter of the bloc's rare-earth imports last year. Like the United States and Europe, Russia also faces competitive bottlenecks arising from China's dominance in critical minerals.

Russia has drawn up a roadmap to expand its rare-earth mining and refining capacity by developing its vast domestic reserves, aiming to increase rare-earth production by 3,000 tons per year by 2030 to meet future demand.