1. Mrima Hill (Kwale County, Coastal Kenya)
- Elements found:
- Neodymium (Nd) – vital for permanent magnets in wind turbines and EV motors.
- Praseodymium (Pr) – used in aircraft engines and magnets.
- Dysprosium (Dy) – enhances magnet strength at high temperatures.
- Terbium (Tb) – used in green phosphors and magnet alloys.
- Europium (Eu) – critical for red phosphors in screens.
- Yttrium (Y) – applied in lasers, ceramics, and superconductors.
- Significance: Mrima Hill is considered one of the richest rare earth deposits globally, also containing niobium reserves.
2. Coastal Carbonatite Complexes (Kwale, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta)
- Elements found:
- Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (La), Samarium (Sm), Gadolinium (Gd).
- Geological context: These alkaline intrusive complexes are associated with carbonatite formations, which are globally known hosts of rare earth mineralization.
3. Rift Valley and Mobile Belt Regions
- Elements found:
- Scandium (Sc), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Lutetium (Lu).
- Geological context: Pegmatite-hosted rare metals and magmatic sulphides occur here, though exploration is still at reconnaissance stage.
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