Abstract: The determination of low content total rare earth in bastnaesite during dressing processes was determined by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry method. Tests were made on the fusion condition, sample treatment and the interference of co-existing ions to investigate veracity and precision of the method. After alkali melt decomposition, the rare earth precipitate are precipitated and separated by ammonia, thus recoveries of standard addition can reach 95 %-105 % with RSD less than 3 %, and without obvious interferences by impurity elements. In addition, ICP-AES, gravimetric analysis and X-ray fluorescence comparison test were carried out to find no significant difference. The results show that the method is highly accurate and precise, and can be applied for routine analysis of low content total rare earth during bastnaesite dressing processes.