Enigmatic association of the carbonatite and alkali-pyroxenite along the Northern Shear Zone,Purulia, West Bengal: A saga of primary magmatic carbonatite

The Purulia carbonatite, ‘carbonatite’-‘alkali-pyroxenite’-‘apatite-magnetite rock’ association, is located at Beldih area of Purulia district, West Bengal and falls within the 100 km long Northern Shear Zone (NSZ). Published literature suggests that the Purulia carbonatite was formed by the process of liquid immiscibility from under-saturated silicate parent magma. However, no silica under-saturated rocks like ijolite, nepheline-syenite etc. is known from the area. The trace element geochemistry (Ba/La, Nb/Th, Nb/Pb and Y/Ce ratios in the present study) also does not support this view. Present study indicates that the Purulia carbonatite is enriched in ΣREE and incompatible elements but the carbonatite is also poorer in Nb, Th and Pb compared to the world average of calicocarbonatites. The lower value of Nb is characteristics of carbo(hydro)thermal carbonatite where carbonatite is associated with alkali-pyroxenite and suggests probable origin of the carbonatite as carbothermal residua evolved from an unknown parentage. However, the field, petrographic and geochemical data indicate the genesis of this carbonatite from a primary carbonatitic magma of mantle decent. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the carbonatite and apatite separated from the carbonatite (～0.703) implies primary magmatic derivation of the Purulia carbonatite. Close similarity of the apatite of the apatite-magnetite rock with the mantle apatite (of type Apatite B) indicates that they are also of primary magmatic origin. The present work portrays a unique example where primary magmatic carbonatite is associated with the alkali-pyroxenite.     

Enigmatic association of the carbonatite and alkali-pyroxenite along the Northern Shear Zone, Purulia, West Bengal: A saga of primary magmatic carbonatite

The Purulia carbonatite, ‘carbonatite’-‘alkali-pyroxenite’-‘apatite-magnetite rock’ association, is located at Beldih area of Purulia district, West Bengal and falls within the 100 km long Northern Shear Zone (NSZ). Published literature suggests that the Purulia carbonatite was formed by the process of liquid immiscibility from under-saturated silicate parent magma. However, no silica under-saturated rocks like ijolite, nepheline-syenite etc. is known from the area. The trace element geochemistry (Ba/La, Nb/Th, Nb/Pb and Y/Ce ratios in the present study) also does not support this view. Present study indicates that the Purulia carbonatite is enriched in ΣREE and incompatible elements but the carbonatite is also poorer in Nb, Th and Pb compared to the world average of calicocarbonatites. The lower value of Nb is characteristics of carbo(hydro)thermal carbonatite where carbonatite is associated with alkali-pyroxenite and suggests probable origin of the carbonatite as carbothermal residua evolved from an unknown parentage. However, the field, petrographic and geochemical data indicate the genesis of this carbonatite from a primary carbonatitic magma of mantle decent. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the carbonatite and apatite separated from the carbonatite (∼0.703) implies primary magmatic derivation of the Purulia carbonatite. Close similarity of the apatite of the apatite-magnetite rock with the mantle apatite (of type Apatite B) indicates that they are also of primary magmatic origin. The present work portrays a unique example where primary magmatic carbonatite is associated with the alkali-pyroxenite.     

白云鄂博——一个典型的碱性-碳酸岩杂岩的厘定

在内蒙古白云鄂博地区发育着一套由碱性-碳酸岩杂岩(原H_8)、碳酸岩岩墙群、沉积—火山岩系(原H_9)、矿区浅成中基性岩岩墙群和角砾橄榄岩体群等组成的独具特色的大型杂岩。 白云鄂博Nb-Fe-RE超大型矿床其赋矿碳酸岩(H_8),长期被误认为沉积白云岩。根据综合对比研究表明,赋矿H_8同本区典型的火成碳酸岩岩墙群和世界同类碳酸岩存在着高度的相似性。而与本区典型沉积岩剖面中的腮林忽洞微晶丘和白云岩却完全迥异。故白云鄂博矿床赋矿H_8实为一典型的碱性—碳酸岩杂岩。在岩石分类学上,采用CaO-MgO-(FeO十Fe_2O_3+MnO)三端元组分分类图解,将本区碳酸岩类划分为两大独立的岩石分区,即:以方解石碳酸岩为代表的钙质碳酸岩类(Ⅰ类)和以含铁白云石或铁白云石碳酸岩为代表的镁质碳酸岩类(Ⅱ类)。前者岩浆成分属Ca Fe质系列,后者属Mg Fe质系列,两者均具有富铁演化趋势。 对世界上主要火成碳酸类(不含Na质碳酸岩)进行的统计结果,同样给出了两大独立的岩石类型分区(即Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类)和两大岩浆成分系列(Ca Fe质和Mg Fe质)。这一结果则与本区碳酸岩实际有着惊人地一致。它反映一个无可争辨的事实,即全球碳酸岩所固有的成岩成矿专属性,这一属性不受产地、成岩时代和产状等的约束,而表现一致共有的普遍规律。 赋矿碳酸岩体     

白云鄂博矿区周围火成碳酸岩岩墙地质特征

首次填出白云鄂博矿区周围火成碳酸岩岩墙的分布图,深入系统地研究了岩墙的地质产状、主矿物类型、岩石结构、人工重砂矿物组成、稀土元素含量等特征。反映了白云鄂博矿区周围火成碳酸岩岩墙的岩浆演化分异过程存在差异。对于研究白云鄂博矿区铁与稀土的矿化提供了物质来源的证据。     

Recognition of the time and level of emplacement of the Sillai Patti carbonatite complex,Malakand Division,Northwest Pakistan: Constraints from fission-track dating

The Sillai Patti carbonatite complex represents the second largest carbonatite body of the Peshawar Plain Alkaline Igneous Province of northern Pakistan. It is situated about 20 km west of Malakand, near Sillai Patti village. Here, the carbonatite occurs along a fault in the form of a sheet striking in the NNE–SSW direction and dipping towards south. The carbonatite body is about 12 km long and 2–20 m thick, predominantly intruded along the faulted contact of metasediments and granite gneiss but locally, within the metasediments.A fission-track age of 29.40 ± 1.47 Ma was obtained for the Sillai Patti carbonatite complex. Close resemblance of fission-track apatite age of this study with the fission-track as well as other high temperature radiometric ages from the same and the neighboring carbonatite complexes of the alkaline belt of northern Pakistan suggests emplacement of the Sillai Patti carbonatite complex at higher crustal level and subsequent extremely fast cooling to near ambient temperatures (<60 °C) required for the complete retention of fission tracks in apatite. The age data also point out that the fission-track age of 29.40 ± 1.47 Ma of this study is the age of intrusion of the carbonatitic magma of Sillai Patti carbonatite complex to shallow, near-surface level.Comparison of the uplift induced denudation rates of the region with the world data clearly reflects the presence of a post collisonal extensional environment in the region south of Main Mantle Thrust during Oligocene time. This strongly negates the idea of the earlier workers of emplacement of the carbonatite complexes of the Loe-Shilman and Sillai Patti areas along thrust faults during Oligocene.     

白云鄂博矿区“白云岩”成因的初步研究

白云鄂博矿区“白云岩”可以划分成“层状”磷灰石白云石碳酸岩，“层状”细粒稀土白云石碳酸岩、高硅白云石碳酸岩、低硅白云石碳酸岩、方解石碳酸岩等多种类型。它们是同一岩浆源不同演化阶段的产物。这些不同类型碳酸岩所携带的成矿物质，造就了白云鄂博矿床。     

The Yungul carbonatite dykes associated with the epithermal fluorite deposit at Speewah, Kimberley, Australia: carbon and oxygen isotope constraints on their origin

The Yungul carbonatite dykes at Speewah in the Kimberley region of Western Australia were emplaced along a north-trending splay from the northeast-trending Greenvale Fault located at the western boundary of the Halls Creek Orogen. The Yungul carbonatite dykes intrude a thick composite sill of the Palaeoproterozoic Hart Dolerite (~1,790 Ma), consisting of tholeiitic dolerite and gabbro with its felsic differentiates that form the Yilingbun granophyres and associated granites. The carbonatite dykes consist of massive, calcite carbonatite that host very coarse, pegmatitic veins and pods of calcite, and have largely replaced (carbonatitized) and fenitized the country rock Hart Dolerite suite in a zone up to 150 m wide. Dykes of red-brown siliceous fluidized-breccia and epithermal-textured veins consisting of bladed quartz, adularia and fluorite are closely associated with the carbonatite dykes. The Yungul carbonatites are closely associated with fluorite occurrences with resources currently reported as 6.7 Mt at 24.6% CaF₂. The precise age of the Yungul carbonatite is not known, although it is believed to be post early Cambrian. The total REE content of the Yungul carbonatite is low (174.0–492.8 ppm; La/Yb 2.28–10.74) and thus atypical for calciocarbonatite. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for the carbonatite are relatively flat compared to average calciocarbonatite, and show small negative Eu anomalies. These unusual geochemical features may have been acquired from the Hart Dolerite suite during emplacement of the carbonatite, a process that involved extensive replacement and fenitization of country rocks. Carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of massive calcite carbonatite and the coarse calcite veins and pods from the carbonatite suggest a deep-seated origin. The C and O isotope compositions show an overall positive correlation that can be attributed to both magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal processes in their evolution. The magmatic δ¹³C-δ¹⁸O trend is also indicative of crustal contamination and/or low-temperature water/rock exchange. The carbon isotopic compositions have δ¹³C values that range from about ?5.2‰ to ?6.3‰ that support a mantle-derived origin for the Yungul carbonatites and are consistent with earlier conclusions based on whole-rock geochemistry and radiogenic isotopes studies.     

黔北新蒲红色风化壳剖面的粒度分布特征--兼论岩溶区上覆土层的物质来源

粒度分析在风化壳物源示踪方面是一种新的尝试,具有指示直接的特点。尤其当常规的地球化学、矿物学等方法难以直观反映母岩的不均一性对风化壳的影响时,粒度分布特征却可以建立两者的对应关系,从而更为合理地指示风化壳和下伏基岩的关系。黔北新蒲剖面的下伏基岩为局部夹碎屑岩薄层的连续型碳酸盐岩,本文通过对其酸不溶物及上覆红色风化壳粒度分布特征的研究,表明基岩的垂向不均一,导致上覆风化壳粒度分布特征的差异性,同时存在与下伏不同基岩酸不溶物粒度分布特征相对应的风化壳,指示了碳酸盐岩为其上覆风化壳的成土母岩。化学风化指标在剖面的变化也支持了粒度分析结果,即风化壳母岩的不均一性。从碎屑岩夹层和碳酸盐岩对风化壳提供物源的相对份额中指出碳酸盐岩的酸不溶物对上覆风化壳的优势贡献。从粒度参数角度进一步诠释了连续型碳酸盐岩风化残积成土的现实性,为正确理解中国西南岩溶区红色风化壳的成因提供了新的探索手段。综合资料显示,碳酸盐岩特别是连续型碳酸盐岩酸不溶物构成中国西南岩溶区上覆红色风化壳的主要物质来源也是可能的。     

New carbonatite complex in the western Baikal area,southern Siberian craton: Mineralogy,age, geochemistry,and petrogenesis

A dike–vein complex of potassic type of alkalinity recently discovered in the Baikal ledge, western Baikal area, southern Siberian craton, includes calcite and dolomite–ankerite carbonatites, silicate-bearing carbonatite, phlogopite metapicrite, and phoscorite. The most reliable ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating of the rocks on magnesioriebeckite from alkaline metasomatite at contact with carbonatite yields a statistically significant plateau age of 1017.4 ± 3.2 Ma. The carbonatite is characterized by elevated SiO₂ concentrations and is rich in K₂O (K₂O/Na₂O ratio is 21 on average for the calcite carbonatite and 2.5 for the dolomite–ankerite carbonatite), TiO₂, P₂O₅ (up to 9 wt %), REE (up to 3300 ppm), Nb (up to 400 ppm), Zr (up to 800 ppm), Fe, Cr, V, Ni, and Co at relatively low Sr concentrations. Both the metapicrite and the carbonatite are hundreds of times or even more enriched in Ta, Nb, K, and LREE relative to the mantle and are tens of times richer in Rb, Ba, Zr, Hf, and Ti. The high (Gd/Yb)_CN ratios of the metapicrite (4.5–11) and carbonatite (4.5–17) testify that their source contained residual garnet, and the high K₂O/Na₂O ratios of the metapicrite (9–15) and carbonatite suggest that the source also contained phlogopite. The Nd isotopic ratios of the carbonatite suggest that the mantle source of the carbonatite was mildly depleted and similar to an average OIB source. The carbonatites of various mineral composition are believed to be formed via the crystallization differentiation of ferrocarbonatite melt, which segregated from ultramafic alkaline melt.     

A model for carbonatite hosted REE mineralisation — the Mianning–Dechang REE belt,Western Sichuan Province,China

The Mianning–Dechang (MD) REE belt of Sichuan, China is one of the most important REE belt in China, which includes Maoniuping, the third largest REE deposit in the world and a series of large to small REE deposits. Mineralization styles varied across the belt, as well as within different parts of the same deposit. Styles include vein-stockworks, pegmatites, breccias and disseminated REE mineralization. Based on geological, geochemical and inclusion studies, this paper proposes a new model for carbonatite hosted REE mineralization. The results show that ore-forming fluid is derived from carbonatite magma, which has high temperature, pressure and density, and is characterized by high K, Na, Ca, Sr, Ba, REE and SO₄ contents. The supercritical ore fluid underwent a distinctive evolution path including phase separation, exolution of sulfate melt and unmixing between aqueous fluid and liquid CO₂. Rapid geochemical evolution of a dense carbonatite fluid causes REE mineralization and associated alteration to occur within or proximal to the source carbonatite. Veins, pegmatites and carbonatite comprise a continuum of mineralization styles. Veins occur in the outer zone of the upper levels of the deposit. Pegmatites occur in the inner zone of upper levels, whereas disseminated REE ore occurs at the base of the carbonatite. High water solubility in the carbonatite magma and low water, high REE in the exsolved ore-forming fluids, imply that a giant carbonatite body and deep magma chamber are not necessary for the formation of giant REE deposits.     

冷水坑矿田层状富铅锌矿赋矿围岩——铁锰碳酸岩角砾岩物质来源及成因分析

冷水坑矿田具有浅部斑岩型矿体与深部层状矿体的复杂组合,深部层状矿体赋存于上侏罗统打鼓顶组晶屑凝灰岩所夹的(铁锰)碳酸岩角砾岩层中。从(铁锰)碳酸岩角砾岩的基本地质特征入手,论述和分析了(铁锰)碳酸岩角砾岩的主要物质成分组成、分布、产状及与矿体关系等特点,结合矿物X-射线粉晶分析、碳-氧同位素和氢-氧同位素佐证,认为(铁锰)碳酸岩角砾岩为深水湖泊相火山-沉积成因,与层状矿体形成密切相关,后期斑岩岩浆就位及其流体活动对早期火山沉积碳酸岩层叠加改造,从而形成了与斑岩具有成因联系的层状富铅锌银矿床。     

Trace elements and REE geochemistry of Siriwasan carbonatite,Chhota Udaipur,Gujarat

The Siriwasan carbonatite-sill along with associated alkaline rocks and fenites is located about 10 km north of the well-known Amba Dongar carbonatite-alkaline rocks diatreme, in the Chhota Udaipur carbonatite-alkaline province. Carbonatite has intruded as a sill into the Bagh sandstone and overlying Deccan basalt. This resulted in the formation of carbonatite breccia with enclosed fragments of basement metamorphics, sandstone and fenites in the matrix of ankeritic carbonatite. The most significant are the plugs of sövite with varied mineralogy that include pyroxene, amphibole, apatite, pyrochlore, perovskite and sphene. REE in sövites is related to the content of pyrochlore, perovskite and apatite. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of some sövite samples and an ankeritic carbonatite plot in the “mantle box” pointing to their mantle origin. However, there is also evidence for mixing of the erupting carbonatite magma with the overlying Bagh limestone. The carbonatites of Siriwasan and Amba Dongar have the same Sr and Nd isotopic ratios and radiometric age, suggesting the same magma source. On the basis of available chemical analyses this paper is aimed to give some details of the Siriwasan carbonatites. The carbonatite complex has good potential for an economic mineral deposit but this is the most neglected carbonatite of the Chhota Udaipur province.     

Basaltoids and carbonatite tuffs of Ambinsky volcano (Southwestern Primorye): Geology and genesis

Geological-petrological data were first obtained on the Early Miocene basaltoids and spinel-fassaite carbonatite tuffs of the Ambinsky volcanic structure in southwestern Primorye. The geological study of Ambinsky volcano allowed the reconstruction of stratigraphic sections across lava and pyroclastic basaltic rocks and stratified carbonatite tuffs. The chemical compositions of rocks and mineral phenocrysts from basalts and carbonatite tuffs are reported. The basaltoids are classed with undifferentiated moderately alkaline within-plate basalts. Evidence of carbonate-silicate immiscibility was found in the basaltoids and carbonatite tuffs. It was suggested that the formation of the carbonatite melt associated with simultaneous basification and abundant crystallization of spinel, fassaite, as well as oversaturation of the silicate system in Ca was caused by limestone assimilation, subsequent transformation of the melt, and liquid immiscibility. Thermal decomposition of carbonates with dissolution of released CaO in magma and accumulation of CO₂ in a closed magmatic chamber gave rise to the autoclave gas effect and, correspondingly, heavy explosive eruptions atypical of such volcanic rocks. The genesis of carbonatite tuffs of Ambinsky volcano can serve as a model example of exsolution of carbonate melt in the moderately alkaline nonagpaitic basaltic system.     

Timing of carbonatite-hosted U-polymetallic mineralization in the supergiant Huayangchuan deposit,Qinling Orogen:Constraints from titanite U-Pb and molybdenite Re-Os dating

The newly-discovered supergiant Huayangchuan uranium(U)-polymetallic(Sr,Se,REEs,Ba,Nb and Pb) deposit is located in the Qinling Orogen,central China.The deposit underwent multistage mineralization,with the main carbonatite ore stage being the most important for the U,Nb,REE,Sr and Ba endowments.According to the mineral assemblages,the main carbonatite ore stage can be divided into three substages,i.e.,sulfate(Ba-Sr),alkali-rich U and REE-U mineralization.Main-stage titanite from the Huayangchuan igneous carbonatite are rich in high field strength elements(HFSEs,e.g.,Zr,Nb and REEs),and show clear elemental substitutions(e.g.,Ti vs.Nb+Fe+Al and Ca+Ti vs.Fe+Al+REE).High-precision LA-ICP-MS titanite dating yielded a U-Pb age of 209.0 ± 2.9 Ma,which represents the mainstage mineralization age at Huayangchuan,and is coeval with the local carbonatite dyke intrusion.This mineralization age is further constrained by the Re-Os dating of molybdenite from the Huayangchuan carbonatite,which yielded a weighted mean age of 196.8 ± 2.4 Ma.Molybdenite Re contents(337.55-392.75 ppm) and C-OSr-Nd-Pb isotopic evidence of the Huayangchuan carbonatite both suggest a mantle origin for the carbonatite.Our study supports that the Late Triassic carbonatite magmatism was responsible for the world-class U-Mo-REE mineralization in the Qinling Orogen,and that the regional magmatism and ore formation was likely caused by the closure of the Mianlue ocean and the subsequent North China-South China continent-continent collision.     

The association of potassic trachytes and carbonatites at the Dicker Willem Complex, southwest Namibia: coexisting, immiscible, but not cogenetic magmas

The only significant silicate intrusive rock type in the Dicker Willem carbonatite complex is trachyte, forming, in places, an anastomosing array of minor intrusions cutting basement gneiss close to the carbonatite contact. Bodies are predominantly composite breccias, composed of trachyte clasts, commonly in the form of ellipsoidal pellets, enclosed within, and sharply delineated from, a matrix of carbonatite. Despite close temporal and spatial relationships to carbonatite magmatism, the ultrapotassic, quartz-normative composition and isotope systematics of the trachytes preclude any genetic derivation from the carbonatitic and ijolitic rocks of the central complex. Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios of trachytes strongly resemble those of the highest grade, potassic fenites, whose metasomatic trend converges from the unaltered basement gneiss towards the homogeneous signature of the nepheline sövite–sövite–ijolite suite. Trachytes are interpreted as forming by melting of a cupola of high-grade fenite in response to the advective heat flux from rising carbonatite magma or fluid. Mixed carbonatite and trachyte were emplaced in a fluidised system as contemporaneous, but genetically unrelated, immiscible magmas.     

白云鄂博碳酸岩墙的稀土和微量元素地球化学及对其成因的启示

根据矿物组成白云鄂博矿区的碳酸岩岩可墙可分为白云石型、白云石－方解石共存型和方解石型三种类型。REE和微量元素地球化学表明，这三类碳酸岩岩墙为碳酸岩浆演化不同阶段的产物，白云石型和白云石－方解石共存型对应于早期岩浆阶段，其（La/Nd)n、(La/Yb)n比值随稀土总量的增加而增大，方解石型则对应于碳酸岩浆演化的晚期热液阶段，其稀土总量明显富集，但其（La/Nd)n、(La/Y)n和（La/Yb)n比值随稀土总量的增加却有减小的趋势，热液阶段也是白云鄂博稀土矿化的主要阶段。     

Geochronology and mineralogy of the Weishan carbonatite in Shandong province,eastern China

The Weishan REE deposit is located at the eastern part of North China Craton (NCC), western Shandong Province. The REE-bearing carbonatite occur as veins associated with aegirine syenite. LA-ICP-MS bastnaesite Th-Pb ages (129 Ma) of the Weishan carbonatite show that the carbonatite formed contemporary with the aegirine syenite. Based on the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of calcite, the REE-bearing carbonatite mainly consists of Generation-1 igneous calcite (G-1 calcite) with a small amount of Generation-2 hydrothermal calcite (G-2 calcite). Furthermore, the Weishan apatite is characterized by high Sr, LREE and low Y contents, and the carbonatite is rich in Sr, Ba and LREE contents. The δ¹³C_V-PDB (−6.5‰ to −7.9‰) and δ¹³O_V-SMOW (8.48‰–9.67‰) values are similar to those of primary, mantle-derived carbonatites. The above research supports that the carbonatite of the Weishan REE deposit is igneous carbonatite. Besides, the high Sr/Y, Th/U, Sr and Ba of the apatite indicate that the magma source of the Weishan REE deposit was enriched lithospheric mantle, which have suffered the fluid metasomatism. Taken together with the Mesozoic tectono-magmatic activities, the NW and NWW subduction of Izanagi plate along with lithosphere delamination and thinning of the North China plate support the formation of the Weishan REE deposit. Accordingly, the mineralization model of the Weishan REE deposit was concluded: The spatial-temporal relationships coupled with rare and trace element characteristics for both carbonatite and syenite suggest that the carbonatite melt was separated from the CO₂-rich silicate melt by liquid immiscibility. The G-1 calcites were crystallized from the carbonatite melt, which made the residual melt rich in rare earth elements. Due to the common origin of G-1 and G-2 calcites, the REE-rich magmatic hydrothermal was subsequently separated from the melt. After that, large numbers of rare earth minerals were produced from the magmatic hydrothermal stage.     

陕西户县大石沟碳酸岩地球化学特征及其成因意义

户县大石沟碳酸岩,多年来一直被认为是超基性岩—碳酸岩杂岩体的一部分,属岩浆成因。在岩体地质及岩石学研究的基础上,通过微量元素、岩石化学、稀土元素及碳氧同位素分析,认为该岩石属构造—热液成因的交代蚀变碳酸盐岩。     

白云鄂博地区碳酸岩脉侵位序列与稀土元素富集机制

白云鄂博地区发育大量的火成碳酸岩脉。按照矿物组成,碳酸岩脉可分为白云石型、白云石-方解石共存型和方解石型。野外穿插关系表明,白云石型碳酸岩脉形成得早,而方解石型碳酸岩脉形成得晚。白云鄂博地区的碳酸岩浆存在由白云石型到共存型再到方解石型的先后结晶顺序和演化趋势。碳酸岩脉的主量、稀土和微量元素组成特征表明,随着碳酸岩脉中方解石矿物组分的增加,轻稀土元素的含量呈明显富集趋势,而长期的结晶分异作用正是稀土元素,尤其是轻稀土元素在晚期岩浆中强烈富集的内在机制。     

A Geochemical Study of an REE-rich Carbonatite Dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, Northern China

An REE-rich carbonatite dyke was found in Dulahala, close to the Bayan Obo superlarge REE-Nb-Fe mineral deposit in Inner Mongolia, northern China. The REE content in the dyke varies greatly, from 1% up to 20% (wt), which might constitute rich REE ores. Light REEs in the carbonatite are enriched and highly fractionated relative to heavy REEs and there is no Eu anomaly. The REE and trace element distribution patterns of the carbonatite are identical to those of fine-grained dolomite marble which is the host rock of the Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe superlarge mineral deposit. This indicates a petrogenetic linkage between the REE-rich carbonatite and the mineralizations in this region.