Abstract:Bastnaesite belongs to the fluoro carbonate-type rare earth ore, often associated with barium, strontium, calcium, iron, thorium, and other elements. As one of the most important rare earth resources with the most industrial applications in the world, the technological development in extraction and separation technology of bastnaesite is of great importance for industrialization of rare earth. The current status of extraction and separation industry of bastnaesite was introduced firstly. The characteristics and problems of the current mainstream techniques of oxidation roasting, hydrochloric acid leaching and alkali conversion, which is widely used in the industrial smelting of bastnaesite rare earth concentrate, were analyzed and reviewed. Then the new extraction and separation processes of bastnaesite, which contain low-temperature oxidation roasting and hydrochloric acid leaching method, and hydrochloric acid-sulfuric acid combination method, and other method as well as their characteristics, were reviewed. Finally, according to the current development status and problems of the bastnaesite extraction and separation process, the suggestions were put forward in terms of green upgrading and intelligent transformation of the technology.