A method for hydrometallurgical extraction of rare earth elements and niobium from a an ore or a flotation concentrate containing rare earth elements, niobium, iron and alkali earth metals, the method comprising removal of the alkali earth metals using an acidic solution of a pH in a range between about 1 and about 6, leaching the rare earth elements; precipitation of the rare earth elements from a resulting pregnant leach solution using sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate; physically separating metal hydroxides from a resulting leach residue containing metal hydroxides, iron oxide, silicate, and pyrochlore; removing the iron oxide by physical beneficiation and then by atmospheric acid leaching; and recovering niobium from a clean solid residue by pressurized acid leaching.