**4. Conclusions**

Thus, as a result of the experimental studies, a ternary master alloy of magnesium–zinc– neodymium was obtained, while optimal technological conditions of the synthesis were revealed (temperature 650 ◦C, residence time 20 min, ratio of chlorides to neodymium fluoride 1:6, while stirring the melt), in this case, the degree of extraction of neodymium achieved is up to 99.6%.

It was established that the onset of the reduction of neodymium by magnesium–zinc melt from its fluoride in the chloride melt occurs at a temperature of 522 ◦C using DTA. This is confirmed by an extended exothermic e ffect with a minimum at 566 ◦C.

Analysis of the microstructure showed that the obtained ternary master alloy 25Mg–50Zn–25Nd is characterized by a uniform distribution of intermetallic compounds (Mg3NdZn6) in the bulk of the double magnesium–zinc eutectic. The obtained experimental data are a prerequisite for the development of industrial technology for the production of magnesium–zinc–neodymium alloys for their use in non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, I.B.; methodology, S.S.; software, I.B.; validation, S.S., I.B., R.K.; formal analysis, V.B.; investigation, I B.; resources, S.S.; writing—original draft preparation, S.S.; writing—review and editing, R.K. and V.B.; visualization, I.B.; supervision, R.K.; project administration, I.B.; funding acquisition, I.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors thank St. Petersburg Mining University for the opportunity to realize research. The studies were performed using the equipment of the Common Use Centre of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
