AbstractTransmission electron microscopy (TEM) and associated electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) study show intergrowth of Ce4+-rich pyrochlore (metamict) and Ce3+-rich pyrochlore (partially metamict) in a Ce-rich pyrochlore from a rare earth element (REE) ore deposit of Inner Mongolia, Northern China. The partially metamict material is Ba-free and dominated by Ce3+. However, the metamict material is Ba-bearing and dominated by Ce3+,. The Ce4+-rich pyrochlore may result from radiation damage by alpha decay that also causes oxidation of Fe 2+ in titanite, and the interaction with a Ba-bearing oxidizing fluid. The oxidation of Ce3+ in the primary pyrochlore is accompanied by in the loss of REE, Ca, and Pb, a daughter product of U via alpha decay, during the alteration. However, most REE were incorporated in the alteration product, the Ce4+-rich pyrochlore. Based on EDS and EELS analyses, the chemical formulae of the partially metamict Ce3+-rich pyrochlore and metamict Ce4+-rich pyroeblore can be written as: (Ca, Ce3+, U, Pb) 2(Ti, Nb)2O7−x(OH)x, and (Ba, Ca, Ce4+, U)2 (Ti, Nb)2O7−y(OH)y, respectively. Ce is the most abundant element among all REE. It is proposed that the alteration takes place in solid-state with oxidizing fluid as a catalyst. The alteration kinetics is controlled by diffusion processes of aqueous species in metamict pyrochlore.
Sedimentary carbonate-hosted giant Bayan Obo REE-Fe-Nb ore deposit of Inner Mongolia, China; a cornerstone example for giant polymetallic ore deposits of hydrothermal origin
