2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
[HRE13-03] Development of traceability technology by dimensional compression of high-dimensional chemical composition data from tungsten minerals to product materials
Keywords:traceability, machine learning, Rare Earth Elements (REE)
In this study, REEs of two tungsten minerals, Scheelite and Wolframite, from multiple localities were measured by LA-ICP-MS, and 260 published REE pattern data of tungsten minerals (30 localities) were also used. These REE patterns were characterized and identified by unsupervised machine learning (PCA and UMAP) to identify the origin and material.
The REE patterns differ between Scheelite and Wolframite and can be further distinguished using PCA and UMAP. The REE patterns and PCA results varied depending on the mineral type, but there were no significant differences based on provenance, and PCA was unable to identify it. On the other hand, UMAP can classify into different clusters depending on the attribute, and it is considered to have better discrimination performance than PCA.
The REE concentrations in the WC material were ultra-trace (10<ppb) and could not be accurately measured. This suggests that the concentration of REEs decreases during the material manufacturing process. PCA and UMAP were utilized for dimensional compression.
Machine learning (UMAP) for the REE patterns of tungsten minerals and tungsten carbide revealed that the various REE patterns in the mineral stage converge to a certain region during the manufacturing process. This could be applied to traceability of tungsten from mineral production to material manufacturing.
