Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovery, extraction and separation of rare earth elements from rare earth containing materials such as ore and tailings. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention includes grinding rare earth-containing ores to form ore powder and leaching the powered ore with at least one mineral acid. Further, the method of the present invention includes forming a leach solution of metal ions, forming an aqueous-metal concentrate, and precipitating the aqueous-metal concentrate to selectively remove the metal ions from the leach solution. Further, the method of present invention includes the steps of obtaining a precipitate of the rare earth elements, mixing the precipitate with ammonium salt and subjected the mixture to an electrowinning process.