A solvent extraction process for separating americium and curium from major portions of rare earths has been developed using tracer americium and curium. Rare earth elements are extracted from 10 M LiCl solutions (with HCl varying from 0.5 to 1.0 M) into 0.5 M mono-2-ethylhexyl orthophosphoric acid in xylene carrier. The americium and curium remain in the lithium chloride solution. Americium is separated from all rare earths, and curium from all rare earths except lanthanum by countercurrent extraction. The extractability of the rare earths, americium, and curium in 10 M LiCl is affected by the HCl feed, the rare earth concentrations in the feed, the organic extractant concentration, and the nature of the diluent.