scholarly journals Vein fluorite U-Pb dating demonstrates post–6.2 Ma rare-earth element mobilization associated with Rio Grande rifting

Geosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1958-1972
Author(s):  
Gavin Piccione ◽  
E. Troy Rasbury ◽  
Brent A. Elliott ◽  
J. Richard Kyle ◽  
Steven J. Jaret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Heavy Rare Earth Element ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Element Mobilization ◽  
Ree Mobility

Abstract Numerous studies have documented rare-earth element (REE) mobility in hydrothermal and metamorphic fluids, but the processes and timing of REE mobility are rarely well constrained. The Round Top laccolith in the Trans-Pecos magmatic province of west Texas, a REE ore prospect, has crosscutting fractures filled with fluorite and calcite along with a variety of unusual minerals. Most notably among these is an yttrium and heavy rare-earth element (YHREE) carbonate mineral, which is hypothesized to be lokkaite based on elemental analyses. While the Round Top laccolith is dated to 36.2 ± 0.6 Ma based on K/Ar in biotite, U-Pb fluorite and nacrite ages presented here clearly show the mineralization in these veins is younger than 6.2 ± 0.4 Ma (the age of the oldest fluorite). This discrepancy in dates suggests that fluids interacted with the laccolith to mobilize REE more than 30 m.y. after igneous emplacement. The timing of observed REE mobilization overlaps with Rio Grande rift extension, and we suggest that F-bearing fluids associated with extension may be responsible for initial mobilization. A later generation of fluids was able to dissolve fluorite, and we hypothesize this later history involved sulfuric acid. Synchrotron spectroscopy and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb dating of minerals that record these fluids offer tremendous potential for a more fundamental understanding of processes that are important not only for REE but other ore deposits as well.

Cumulate olivine: A novel host for heavy rare earth element mineralization

Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brandt ◽  
M.L. Fassbender ◽  
R. Klemd ◽  
C. Macauley ◽  
P. Felfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Heavy Rare Earth Element ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Novel Host

Olivine is one of the most important minerals used to reconstruct magmatic processes, yet the rare earth element (REE) systematics of Fe-rich olivine in igneous rocks and ore deposits is poorly understood. As detected by in situ laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis, cumulate fayalite (Fe2SiO4) in the Paleoproterozoic Vergenoeg F-Fe-REE deposit of the Bushveld large igneous province (LIP) in South Africa contains the highest heavy REE (HREE) contents ever recorded for olivine, with HREE enrichment of as much as 6000× chondritic values. Atom probe tomography maps confirm the incorporation of the HREEs into the fayalite crystal lattice, facilitated by lithium acting as a main charge balancer and by high REE contents in the highly fractionated felsic parental melt that is related to the Bushveld LIP. The high HREE concentrations of fayalite in concert with its high modal abundance (>95 vol%) indicate that the fayalite cumulates are the main host for the HREE mineralization of the Vergenoeg deposit. Fayalites of Vergenoeg demonstrate that Fe-rich olivine may fractionate large amounts of HREEs, and we propose fayalite cumulates as potential future targets for HREE exploration.

scholarly journals First occurrence of moskvinite-(Y) in the Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland – implications for rare-earth element mobility

2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Friis
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Alkaline Complex ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry

AbstractMoskvinite-(Y), Na2K(Y,REE)Si6O15, is a rare mineral, which until now has only been described from its type locality Dara-i-Pioz, Tajikistan. At Ilímaussaq moskvinite-(Y) was discovered in a drill core from Kvanefjeld, where it occurs as a replacement mineral associated with a mineral belonging to the britholite group. The composition was determined by a combination of electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses. The empirical formula based on 15 oxygens is Na1.94K0.99(Y0.94Yb0.03Er0.03Dy0.03Ho0.01Gd0.01)∑1.05Si5.98O15. The coexistence of an almost pure Y and a light rare-earth element (REE) mineral is interpreted as fractionation ofREEand Y during the replacement of an earlier formedREEmineral. Theoretical calculations of the observed replacement of feldspathoids by natrolite show that the generated fluid would have pH > 8, which inhibits large scale mobility ofREE. In addition, a K-Fe sulfide member of the chlorbartonite-bartonite group is for the first time observed in Ilímaussaq where it occurs where sodalite is replaced by natrolite and arfvedsonite by aegirine. The sulfide incorporates the S and some of the Cl generated by the alteration of sodalite, whereas the K and Fe originates from the replacement of arfvedsonite by aegirine.

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