scholarly journals Carbonatite-Related REE Deposits: An Overview

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 965
Author(s):  
Zhen-Yu Wang ◽  
Hong-Rui Fan ◽  
Lingli Zhou ◽  
Kui-Feng Yang ◽  
Hai-Dong She
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Fractional Crystallization ◽  
Hydrothermal System ◽  
Experimental Petrology ◽  
Evolution Process ◽  
Primitive Mantle ◽  
Carbonate Minerals ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Carbonatite Magma

The rare earth elements (REEs) have unique and diverse properties that make them function as an “industrial vitamin” and thus, many countries consider them as strategically important resources. China, responsible for more than 60% of the world’s REE production, is one of the REE-rich countries in the world. Most REE (especially light rare earth elements (LREE)) deposits are closely related to carbonatite in China. Such a type of deposit may also contain appreciable amounts of industrially critical metals, such as Nb, Th and Sc. According to the genesis, the carbonatite-related REE deposits can be divided into three types: primary magmatic type, hydrothermal type and carbonatite weathering-crust type. This paper provides an overview of the carbonatite-related endogenetic REE deposits, i.e., primary magmatic type and hydrothermal type. The carbonatite-related endogenetic REE deposits are mainly distributed in continental margin depression or rift belts, e.g., Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit, and orogenic belts on the margin of craton such as the Miaoya Nb-REE deposit. The genesis of carbonatite-related endogenetic REE deposits is still debated. It is generally believed that the carbonatite magma is originated from the low-degree partial melting of the mantle. During the evolution process, the carbonatite rocks or dykes rich in REE were formed through the immiscibility of carbonate-silicate magma and fractional crystallization of carbonate minerals from carbonatite magma. The ore-forming elements are mainly sourced from primitive mantle, with possible contribution of crustal materials that carry a large amount of REE. In the magmatic-hydrothermal system, REEs migrate in the form of complexes, and precipitate corresponding to changes of temperature, pressure, pH and composition of the fluids. A simple magmatic evolution process cannot ensure massive enrichment of REE to economic values. Fractional crystallization of carbonate minerals and immiscibility of melts and hydrothermal fluids in the hydrothermal evolution stage play an important role in upgrading the REE mineralization. Future work of experimental petrology will be fundamental to understand the partitioning behaviors of REE in magmatic-hydrothermal system through simulation of the metallogenic geological environment. Applying “comparative metallogeny” methods to investigate both REE fertile and barren carbonatites will enhance the understanding of factors controlling the fertility.

Tetrad effect of rare earth elements caused by fractional crystallization in high-silica granites: An example from Central Tibet

Lithos ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 105968
Author(s):  
Xue Shuai ◽  
Shi-Min Li ◽  
Di-Cheng Zhu ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Liang-Liang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Fractional Crystallization ◽  
Tetrad Effect ◽  
High Silica ◽  
Central Tibet

scholarly journals Geochemistry of Garga-Sarali intrusive granitoids (central domain of the central African fold belt in Cameroon): petrological implication

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Daama Isaac ◽  
Mbowou Gbambie Isaac Bertrand ◽  
Yamgouot Ngounouno Fadimatou ◽  
Ntoumbe Mama ◽  
Ngounouno Ismaïla
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Partial Melting ◽  
Fractional Crystallization ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Geochemical Analysis ◽  
Fold Belt ◽  
Volcanic Arcs ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Incompatible Elements

The Garga-Sarali granitoids outcrop in form of large slabs and undistorted large blocks, into a schisto-gneissic basement. These rocks contain mainly muscovite and microcline, followed by K-feldspar, quartz, biotite, pyroxene, zircon and oxides, with coarse-grained to fine-grained textures. Geochemical analysis show that it belongs to differentiated rocks group (granodiorite-granite) with high SiO2 (up to 72 wt%) contents. Their genesis was made from a process of partial melting and fractional crystallization. These rocks are classified as belonging to I- and S-Type, meta-peraluminous, shoshonitic granites; belonging to the domain of volcanic arcs. The rare earth elements patterns suggest a source enriched of incompatible elements. The Nb-Ta and Ti negative anomalies from the multi-element patterns are characteristics of the subduction domains.  

scholarly journals Material efficiency: rare and critical metals

2013 ◽  
Vol 371 (1986) ◽  
pp. 20110563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert U. Ayres ◽  
Laura Talens Peiró
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Platinum Group Metals ◽  
Rare Metals ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
The Past ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Aluminium Copper ◽  
Copper Zinc ◽  
Industrial Metals

In the last few decades, progress in electronics, especially, has resulted in important new uses for a number of geologically rare metals, some of which were mere curiosities in the past. Most of them are not mined for their own sake (gold, the platinum group metals and the rare Earth elements are exceptions) but are found mainly in the ores of the major industrial metals, such as aluminium, copper, zinc and nickel. We call these major metals ‘attractors’ and the rare accompanying metals ‘hitch-hikers’. The key implication is that rising prices do not necessarily call forth greater output because that would normally require greater output of the attractor metal. We trace the geological relationships and the functional uses of these metals. Some of these metals appear to be irreplaceable in the sense that there are no known substitutes for them in their current functional uses. Recycling is going to be increasingly important, notwithstanding a number of barriers.

Geochemistry of major and rare earth elements in garnet of the Kal-e Kafi skarn, Anarak Area, Central Iran: Constraints on processes in a hydrothermal system

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ranjbar ◽  
S. M. Tabatabaei Manesh ◽  
M. A. Mackizadeh ◽  
S. H. Tabatabaei ◽  
O. V. Parfenova
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Hydrothermal System ◽  
Central Iran

scholarly journals Fractionation Trends and Variability of Rare Earth Elements and Selected Critical Metals in Pelagic Sediment from Abyssal Basin of NE Pacific (Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone)

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Zawadzki ◽  
Łukasz Maciąg ◽  
Tomasz Abramowski ◽  
Kevin McCartney
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Fracture Zone ◽  
Grain Size Analysis ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Clipperton Fracture Zone ◽  
Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone

The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of pelagic sediments collected from the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) claim area, located in the eastern part of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ; eastern tropical Pacific), are described in this paper. The concentrations of rare earth elements (REE), as well as other selected critical elements contained in 135 sediment samples of siliceous clayey silts, are presented. The vertical and spatial variabilities of elements, with particular emphasis on REE as well as metals of the highest economic interest such as Cu, Ni, and Co, are detailed. The applied methods include grain size analysis by laser diffraction, geochemistry examination using ICP-MS, XRF, AAS, and CNS spectrometry, and XRD analysis of mineral composition (Rietveld method). Additionally, statistical methods such as factor analysis (FA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were applied to the results. Finally, a series of maps was prepared by geostatistical methods (universal kriging). Grain size analysis showed poor sorting of the examined fine-grained silts. ICP-MS indicated that total REE contents varied from 200 to 577 ppm, with a mean of 285 ppm, which is generally low. The contents of critical metals such as Cu, Ni, and Co were also low to moderate, apart from some individual sampling stations where total contents were 0.15% or more. Metal composition in sediments was dominated by Cu, Ni, and Zn. A mineral composition analysis revealed the dominance of amorphous biogenic opaline silica (27–58%), which were mostly remnants of diatoms, radiolarians, and sponges associated with clay minerals (23% to 48%), mostly Fe-smectite and illite, with mixed-layered illite/smectite. The high abundance of diagenetic barite crystals found in SEM−EDX observations explains the high content of Ba (up to 2.4%). The sediments showed complex lateral and horizontal fractionation trends for REE and critical metals, caused mostly by clay components, early diagenetic processes, admixtures of allogenic detrital minerals, or scavenging by micronodules.

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