REE Geochemical Characteristics of Apatite,Sphene and Zircon from Alkaline Rocks

The accessory minerals apatite and sphene are the main carriers of REE in alkaline rocks.Their chondrite-normalized REE patterns decline sharply to the right as those of the host rocks,In the patterns an obvious negative Eu anomaly and a positive Ce anomaly can be seen in apatite and sphene,respectively.Zircon from alkaline rocks is different in REE pattern,I,e,. a nearly symmetric“V“-shaped pattern with a maximum negative Eu anomaly.Compared with the equivalents from granites,apatite,sphene and zircon from alkaline rocks are all characterized by higher (La/Yb)N ratio and less Eu depletion,As to the relative contents of REE in minerals,apatite,sphene and zircon are enriched in LREE,MREE and HREE respectively,depending on their crystallochemical properties.     

安康双龙桥碱性辉长杂岩中磷灰石和榍石的矿物成分研究

X射线衍射分析和化学成分研究表明,磷灰石为氟磷灰石,榍石成分中存在着的主要类质同象替代是(Fe~(3+)、Al)+(F,OH)~-=Ti~(4+)+O~(2-)。磷灰石和榍石是碱性辉长岩的REE、Ba、Zr等微量元素的主要载体;它们是在较高氧逸度的条件下结晶的。磷灰石的Sr同位素特征说明形成双龙桥碱性辉长杂岩的物质来源于上地幔。     

Apatite as an indicator mineral for mineral exploration: trace-element compositions and their relationship to host rock type

Over 700 apatite grains from a range of rock types have been analysed by laser-ablation microprobe ICPMS for 28 trace elements, to investigate the potential usefulness of apatite as an indicator mineral in mineral exploration. Apatites derived from different rock types have distinctive absolute and relative abundances of many trace elements (including rare-earth elements (REE), Sr, Y, Mn, Th), and chondrite-normalised trace-element patterns. The slope of chondrite-normalised REE patterns varies systematically from ultramafic through mafic/intermediate to highly fractionated granitoid rock types. (Ce/Yb)_cn is very high in apatites from carbonatites and mantle-derived lherzolites (over 100 and over 200, respectively), while (Ce/Yb)_cn values in apatites from granitic pegmatites are generally less than 1, reflecting both HREE enrichment and LREE depletion. Within a large suite of apatites from granitoid rocks, chemical composition is closely related to both the degree of fractionation and the oxidation state of the magma, two important parameters in determining the mineral potential of the magmatic system. Apatite can accept high levels of transition and chalcophile elements and As, making it feasible to recognise apatite associated with specific types of mineralisation. Multivariate statistical analysis has provided a user-friendly scheme to distinguish apatites from different rock types, based on contents of Sr, Y, Mn and total REE, the degree of LREE enrichment and the size of the Eu anomaly. The scheme can be used for the recognition of apatites from specific rock types or styles of mineralisation, so that the provenance of apatite grains in heavy mineral concentrates can be determined and used in geochemical exploration.     

Sources of stream sediments in the granulite terrain of the Walawe Ganga Basin,Sri Lanka,indicated by rare earth element geochemistry

Thirty-eight samples of stream sediments draining high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Walawe Ganga (river) Basin, Sri Lanka, were analysed for their REE contents, together with samples of metamorphic suites from the source region. The metamorphic rocks are enriched in light REE (LREE) compared to heavy REE (HREE) and are characterised by high La/Lu ratios and negative Eu anomalies. The chondrite-normalised patterns for these granulite-grade rocks are similar to that of the average post-Archaean upper crust, but they are slightly enriched with La and Ce. The REE contents of the <63-μm fraction of the stream sediments are similar to the probable source rocks, but the other grain size fractions show more enriched patterns. The <63-μm stream sediments fraction contains lower total REE, more pronouncd negative Eu anomalies, higher Eu_N/Sm_N and lower La _N/Lu_N ratios relative to other fractions. The lower La _N/Lu_N ratio is related to the depletion of heavy minerals in the <63-μm fraction. The 63–125-μm and 125–177-μm grain size fractions of sediments are particularly enriched in LREE (average ΣLREE=2990 μg/g and 3410 μg/g, respectively). The total HREE contents are surprisingly uniform in all size fractions. However, the REE contents in the Walawe Ganga sediments are not comparable with those of the granulite-grade rocks from the source region of the sediments. The enrichment of REE is accounted for by the presence of REE containing accessory mineral phases such as zircon, monazite, apatite and garnet. These minerals are derived from an unknown source, presumably from scattered bodies of granitic pegmatites.     

Rare earth element distributions among minerals in a granodiorite and their petrogenetic implications

A study of the distribution of lanthanide rare earths in a granodiorite from the eastern Peninsular Ranges batholith, southern California, reveals that a large fraction of the REE in this rock resides in the accessory phases sphene and allanite. The minerals plagioclase, alkali feldspar, biotite, epidote and apatite each contribute approximately 1% or less of each REE to the whole rock, with the exception of Eu for which plagioclase contributes 7%. Sphene and allanite together contain 80% to 95% of each REE. Each of these phases is zoned in REE concentration with substantial decreases from core to margin. Textural observations argue for relatively early saturation and precipitation of sphene and allanite in the magma. REE zoning trends in sphene and allanite, and unexpectedly low REE concentrations in largely later crystallizing minerals such as feldspar, indicate that the precipitation of sphene and allanite significantly reduced REE concentrations in residual melts. These results illustrate the potential that sphene and allanite have for controlling the behavior of REE in granitic magmas.Available information collectively suggest that the sampled granodiorite existed as a complete melt, that the REE contained in the assemblage of phases were derived by direct crystallization from the melt, and that the melt behaved essentially as a closed system once crystallization of the phases now present began. Close correspondences between the major and trace element chemistries of the granodiorite and phenocryst-poor lavas from similar tectonic settings support these conclusions. The REE pattern of the granodiorite melt appears to have originated at depth and is characteristic of its source regions and derivation mechanism. The high liquidus temperature of a granodiorite melt (~ 1000°C) indicates the importance of mantle-derived components within the sources of batholithic magmas in the Peninsular Ranges.     

Residence of REE, Y, Th and U in Granites and Crustal Protoliths; Implications for the Chemistry of Crustal Melts

A systematic study with laser ablation—ICP-MS, scanningelectron microscopy and electron microprobe revealed that 70–95wt% of REE (except Eu), Y, Th and U in granite rocks and crustalprotoliths reside within REEYThU-rich accessories whose nature,composition and associations change with the rock aluminosity.The accessory assemblage of peraluminous granites, migmatitesand high-grade rocks is composed of monazite, xenotime (in low-Cavarieties), apatite, zircon, Thorthosilicate, uraninite andbetafite-pyrochlore. Metaluminous granites have allanite, sphene,apatite, zircon, monazite and Thorthosilicaie. Peralkaline graniteshave aeschinite, fergusonite, samarskite, bastnaesite, fluocerite,allanite, sphene, zircon, monazite, xenotime and Th-orthosilicate.Granulite-grade garnets are enriched in Nd and Sm by no lessthan one order of magnitude with respect to amphibolite-gradegarnets. Granulitegrade feldspars are also enriched in LREEwith respect to amphibolite-grade feldspars. Accessories causenon-Henrian behaviour of REE, Y, Th and U during melt—solidpartitioning. Because elevated fractions of monazite, xenotimeand zircon in common migmatites are included within major minerals,their behaviour during anatexis is controlled by that of theirhost. Settling curves calculated for a convecting magma showthat accessories are too small to settle appreciably, beingseparated from the melt as inclusions within larger minerals.Biotite has the greatest tendency to include accessories, therebyindirectly controlling the geochemistry of REE, Y, Th and U.We conclude that REE, Y, Th and U are unsuitable for petrogeneticalmodelling of granitoids through equilibrium-based trace-elementfractionation equations. KEY WORDS: accessory minerals; geochemical modelling; granitoids; REE, Y, Th, U     

The release of Pb and REE from granitoids by the dissolution of accessory phases

The release of Pb and rare earth elements (REE) during granitoid weathering was investigated through dissolution experiments of fresh granite and soil samples. Two aliquots of a granite sample from the El-Capitan Granite, Sierra Nevada, California, were leached several times using a dilute acid at pH = 1. The results of the experiment were compared with Pb and REE data from soils developed on the same rock. During the early stages of granitoid dissolution, Pb and REE were preferentially released from some of the accessory phases (i.e., allanite, sphene, and apatite). This caused higher ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb values and different REE patterns in solution compared with the rock values. Based on Pb isotopes and REE patterns, three stages of rock dissolution can be identified. In the first stage the dissolution of allanite dominates the release of Pb and REE from accessory phases, as ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, Ce/Pb, and chondrite-normalized Ce/Yb ratios in solution increase and approach the values of allanite. In the second stage, the dissolution of apatite and sphene become more significant. In the third stage, the isotopic ratios of Pb and the normalized-REE patterns reflect the depletion of accessory phases and the increase in the rate of feldspar dissolution. According to our estimate (based on Si release from the rock) all three stages account for the first 500 kyr of granitoid weathering.Using the isotopic ratios of Pb, major elemental compositions, and REE concentrations both in the experimental solutions and in the soil we were able to establish the following order of the weathering rates of accessory phases: allanite > apatite > sphene. In addition, we have demonstrated that biotite is significantly less resistant to weathering than hornblende under acidic conditions, and is probably dissolved completely after approximately 500 kyr of rock weathering. We also suggest that within 500 kyr of granitoid weathering K-feldspar accounts for 15% of the released K.     

Sm-Nd systematics of a tonalitic augen gneiss and its constituent minerals from northern Michigan

The Sm-Nd isotopic system of a tonalitic augen gneiss and its constituent minerals from northern Michigan was disturbed during metamorphism. Sm-Nd zircon ages are lower than the wholerock Sm-Nd model age. However, closely associated pairs of minerals (for example, sphene and biotite or apatite and plagioclase) retain their apparent metamorphic ages. The Sm-Nd model age for the tonalitic augen gneiss of 3919 ± 30myr, appears to reflect open system behavior during metamorphism. A mineralogically different gneiss from the same location has a Sm-Nd model age of 3520 ± 70 myr. The two whole rocks differ in their Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systematics and in their chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns. The whole-rock-normalized mineral REE patterns show the contribution of the major and trace minerals to the REE content of the whole rock. The trace minerals contain a significant amount of the total REE.     

Rare Earth Element Behaviour During Evolution and Alteration of the Dartmoor Granite, SW England

The distribution of rare earth elements (REE) within the compositionallyzoned Dartmoor pluton is used to constrain models of graniteevolution and to assess the effects of pervasive hydrothermalalteration on REE mobility. The main process of magma evolutionwas crystal fractionation of early plagioclase, biotite, andaccessory minerals (apatite, monazite, zircon, and xenotime).Concentrations of REE (particularly LREE and Eu) and other elements(Fe₂O₃t, MgO, CaO, TiO₂, Zr, Ba, and Sr) decrease strongly withevolution of the pluton from 71 to 74% SiO2. These trends, andthe inward zoning of the pluton, are compatible with differentiationby crystal fractionation at the level of emplacement, a processthat gave rise to a marginal cumulate granite (CGM) modifiedby country rock assimilation, a body of inner granite (PM),and a late-stage evolved granite (FG) that intruded the earliertypes. REE modelling of the Dartmoor granite types by fractionalcrystallization of REE-enriched accessory minerals from a parentPM-granite shows that the FG-granite cannot have formed froma residual liquid left by crystallization of the CGM-granite.Two discrete stages of crystallization occurred; side-wall cumulateCGM-granite crystallization dominated by LREE-en-riched monazitefractionation followed by a late-stage mobile residual FG-granitein which fractionation was dominated by HREE-enriched apatiteand zircon. Modelling supports the idea that large-scale assimilationof country rock was not the dominant process during Dartmoorgranite evolution. Pervasive hydrothermal alteration locally affected all Dartmoorgranite types, altering primary plagioclase, biotite, apatite,monazite, and, to a lesser extent, zircon and xenotime. Duringpervasive sericitization, chloritization, and tourmalinization,REE were mobilized over distances of centimetres only and redistributedinto the secondary alteration products seridte, chlorite, tourmaline,allanite, and sphene. Whole-rock REE abundances were not affected     

REE distribution in some layered migmatites: constraints on their petrogenesis

The REE distributions in mesosomes, neosomes, leucosomes and melanosomes of four layered migmatites have been investigated. In one example (Arvika migmatites) the REE patterns in adjacent paragneisses, the presumed parent rock of the migmatites, were also determined. REE patterns of neosomes and mesosomes of Arvika migmatites are similar to the finegrained layers and coarse-grained layers, respectively, observed in the adjacent paragneiss. This is in agreement with the layer-by-layer paragneiss-migmatite transformation model.

The REE patterns of mesosomes and neosomes indicate that these lithologies may have been closed systems (for REE) during the formation of the migmatites. No indication of metasomatic reactions, melt segregation or injection could be detected. Within the neosomes, leucosomes are depleted and melanosomes enriched in REE contents. This is interpreted to be due to separation and concentration of accessory minerals (monazite, epidote, allanite, zircon, sphene, apatite, garnet) into the melanosomes. The behaviour of accessory minerals during migmatite formation is closely allied to that of biotite, which is also concentrated in the melanosomes.     

Chemistry and Evolution of Fergusonite—Group Minerals,Bayan Obo,Inner Mongolia

A new classification scheme of the fergusnoite-group minerals is suggested on the basis of mineral chemistry and high temperature XRD. A number of new varieties such as M-thorian fergusonite-(Ce). M-neodymian fergusonite-(Ce). T-titanian fergusonite-(Nd) and T-yttrian fergusonite-(Nd) have been recognized in the light of detailed chemical studies, particularly with reference to REE, SRE and solid solution relationship. The results indicate strong REE and SRE differentiation and evolution in the fergusonite group, which can be interpretated by differences in the stability of various REE complexes in response to variations in physicochemical conditions during the multi-stage mineralization process in the Bayan Obo ore deposit. The crystallization of the minerals is closely related to hydrolysis of REE and Nb complexes. REE (OH)₃ Nb(OH)₅ coprecipitation, dehydration, polymerization and nucleation.The significance of SRE (Eu)in the western part of the deposit is emphasized. This project was finantially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

陕西省华阳川铀铌铅矿床碳酸岩岩石学及地球化学特征

陕西省华阳川铀铌铅矿床是小秦岭成矿带中成矿特征最为独特的矿床,碳酸岩脉的破碎带是重要的成矿空间。未矿化的碳酸岩中矿物以方解石为主,其他矿物很少;发育铀矿化的碳酸岩脉中矿物种类繁多,大部分为方解石,其次为角闪石、金云母、榍石、褐帘石、铌钛铀矿、重晶石、磷灰石、石英、磁铁矿、碱性长石等矿物。碳酸岩的LREE含量异常高,δ13CV-PDB和δ18OV-SMOW值显示典型的火成碳酸岩特征。基于碳酸岩脉的Sr、Nd、Pb同位素比值(87Sr/86Sr-206Pb/204Pb、207Pb/204Pb-206Pb/204Pb-143Nd/144Nd-87Sr/86Sr)的关系图,初步判断华阳川铀铌铅碳酸岩脉是源于EMI的碱性硅酸盐-碳酸盐熔体-溶液结晶分异的产物。     

Phillipsite formation in nephelinitic rocks in response to hydrothermal alteration at Mount Etinde,Cameroon

Fresh nephelinitic rocks and hydrothermally altered rocks at Mount Etinde (Cameroon Volcanic Line, West Africa) have been studied by combined whole rock geochemistry (ICP-MS), mineralogy and mineral chemistry (SEM-EDS, WDS, XRD) techniques. The nephelinites have feldspathoids, clinopyroxene, perovskite and titanomagnetite as the principal minerals in the mode with subsidiary apatite and sphene. The mineralogy of their hydrothermally altered counterparts includes phillipsite, calcite and analcime which are secondary phases developed in response to hydrothermal fluid events. Correspondingly, the bulk rock geochemical data show elevated SiO₂, CaO, Na₂O and K₂O concentrations with increasing alteration and Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ depletion while MgO, MnO and TiO₂ concentrations are largely unaffected. The nephelinites also have high concentrations of LILLE, HFSE and REE and upon hydrothermal alteration they show an enrichment of LREE and MREE over HREE. Phillipsite is the principal alteration mineral in the rocks and it occurs along cracks, vesicles and also forms alteromorphs after feldspathoids. The Ce content of these categories of phillipsite varies. Phillipsite along cracks is richer in Ce while phillipsite associated with calcite has lower Ce concentration and the phillipsite alteromorphs very little or no Ce. Various stages of fluid circulation are proposed hereby to explain the variations in phillipsite generation and composition.     

Petrography and mineral chemistry of Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex in Singhbhum Crustal Province,Purulia region,Eastern India

The variant rock types of an Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex (ACC) comprising alkali pyroxenite, nepheline syenite, phoscorite, carbonatite, syenitic fenite and glimmerite along with REE and Nb-mineralization are found at different centres along WNW-ESE trending South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ) in parts of Singhbhum Crustal Province. The ACC occurs as intrusions within the Mesoproterozoic Singhbhum Group of rocks. Alkali pyroxenite comprises of aegirine augite, magnesiotaramite, magnesiokatophorite as major constituents. Pyrochlore and eucolite are ubiquitous in nepheline syenite. Phoscorite contains fluorapatite, dahllite, collophane, magnetite, hematite, goethite, phlogopite, calcite, sphene, monazite, pyrochlore, chlorite and quartz. Coarse fluorapatite shows overgrowth of secondary apatite (dahllite). Secondary apatite is derived from primary fluorapatite by solution and reprecipitation. The primary fluorapatite released REE to crystallize monazite grains girdling around primary apatite. Carbonatite is composed dominantly of Srcalcite along with dolomite, tetraferriphlogopite, phlogopitic biotite, aegirine augite, richterite, fluorapatite, altered magnetite, sphene and monazite. The minerals comprising of the carbonatite indicate middle stage of carbonatite development. Fenite is mineralogically syenite. Glimmerite contains 50–60% tetraferriphlogopite. An alkali trend in the evolution of amphiboles (magnesiotaramite-magnesiokatophorite-richterite) and chinopyroxenes (aegirine augite, aegirine) during the crystallization of the suite of rocks is noted. Monazite is the source of REE in phoscorite and carbonatite. Fluorapatite has low contents of REE, PbO, ThO₂ and UO₂. Pyrochlore reflects Nb-mineralization in nepheline syenite and it is enriched in Na₂O, CaO, TiO₂, PbO and UO₂. Pyrochlore containing UO₂ (6.605%) and PbO (0.914%) in nepheline syenite has been chemically dated at 948 ± 24 Ma by EPMA.     

REE mineralization in the carbonatites of the sung valley ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite complex,Meghalaya, India

The Early Cretaceous Sung Valley Ultramafic-Alkaline-Carbonatite (SUAC) complex intruded the Proterozoic Shillong Group of rocks and located in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya. The SUAC complex is a bowl-shaped depression covering an area of about 26 km² and is comprised serpentinised peridotite forming the core of the complex with pyroxenite rim. Alkaline rocks are dominantly ijolite and nepheline syenite, occur as ring-shaped bodies as well as dykes. Carbonatites are, the youngest intrusive phase in the complex, where they form oval-shaped bodies, small dykes and veins. During the course of large scale mapping in parts of the Sung Valley complex, eleven carbonatite bodies were delineated. These isolated carbonatite bodies have a general NW-SE and E-W trend and vary from 20–125 m long and 10–40 m wide. Calcite carbonatite is the dominant variety and comprises minor dolomite and apatite and accessory olivine, magnetite, pyrochlore and phlogopite. The REE-bearing minerals identified in the Sung Valley carbonatites are bastnäsite-(Ce), ancylite-(Ce), belovite-(Ce), britholite-(Ce) and pyrochlore that are associated with calcite and apatite. The presence of REE carbonates and phosphates associated with REE-Nb bearing pyrochlore enhances the economic potential of the Sung Valley carbonatites. Trace-element geochemistry also reveals an enrichment of LREEs in the carbonatites and average ΣREE value of 0.102% in 26 bed rock samples. Channel samples shows average ΣREE values of 0.103 wt%. Moreover, few samples from carbonatite bodies has indicated relatively higher values for Sn, Hf, Ta and U. Since the present study focuses surface evaluation of REE, therefore, detailed subsurface exploration will be of immense help to determine the REE and other associated mineralization of the Sung Valley carbonatite prospect.     

Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of ion-adsorption type REE mineralization in Phuket, Thailand

Geochemical and mineralogical studies were conducted on the 12-m-thick weathering profile of the Kata Beach granite in Phuket, Thailand, in order to reveal the transport and adsorption of rare earth elements (REE) related to the ion-adsorption type mineralization. The parent rock is ilmenite-series biotite granite with transitional characteristics from I type to S type, abundant in REE (592 ppm). REE are contained dominantly in fluorocarbonate as well as in allanite, titanite, apatite, and zircon. The chondrite-normalized REE pattern of the parent granite indicates enrichment of LREE relative to HREE and no significant Ce anomaly. The upper part of the weathering profile from the surface to 4.5 m depth is mostly characterized by positive Ce anomaly, showing lower REE contents ranging from 174 to 548 ppm and lower percentages of adsorbed REE from 34% to 68% compared with the parent granite. In contrast, the lower part of the profile from 4.5 to 12 m depth is characterized by negative Ce anomaly, showing higher REE contents ranging from 578 to 1,084 ppm and higher percentages from 53% to 85%. The negative Ce anomaly and enrichment of REE in the lower part of the profile suggest that acidic soil water in an oxidizing condition in the upper part mostly immobilized Ce⁴⁺ as CeO₂ and transported REE³⁺ downward to the lower part of the profile. The transported REE³⁺ were adsorbed onto weathering products or distributed to secondary minerals such as rhabdophane. The immobilization of REE results from the increase of pH due to the contact with higher pH groundwater. Since the majority of REE in the weathered granite are present in the ion-adsorption fraction with negative Ce anomaly, the percentages of adsorbed REE are positively correlated with the whole-rock negative Ce anomaly. The result of this study suggests that the ion-adsorption type REE mineralization is identified by the occurrence of easily soluble REE fluorocarbonate and whole-rock negative Ce anomaly of weathered granite. Although fractionation of REE in weathered granite is controlled by the occurrence of REE-bearing minerals and adsorption by weathering products, the ion-adsorption fraction tends to be enriched in LREE relative to weathered granite.     

应用电子探针-扫描电镜研究陕西华阳川铀稀有多金属矿床稀土矿物特征

陕西华阳川铀稀有多金属矿床伴生大量的稀土资源,其矿石类型独特、组分复杂,系统的稀土矿物学工作将揭示矿石主要稀土矿物类型、稀土元素赋存状态,进而对矿床开发中稀土元素综合利用及选冶技术提供重要参考。本文在岩相学基础上,利用电子探针、扫描电镜对陕西华阳川铀稀有多金属矿床矿石中的稀土独立矿物与含稀土矿物进行系统研究,在矿石中发现了褐帘石（La₂O₃ 6.49%～7.61%,Ce₂O₃ 11.50%～14.00%）、磷铈镧矿（La₂O₃ 16.30%～21.21%,Ce₂O₃ 32.06%～39.18%）、磷钇矿（La₂O₃ 2.29%～3.58%,Ce₂O₃ 1.89%～2.37%,Y₂O₃ 39.77%～42.80%）、氟碳铈镧矿（La₂O₃ 12.86%～14.20%,Ce₂O₃ 36.67%～39.90%）、褐钇铌矿（La₂O₃ 1.19%～2.11%,Ce₂O₃ 1.29%～2.30%,Y₂O₃ 22.67%～25.88%）等5种稀土独立矿物;同时发现磷灰石、贝塔石、榍石等矿物中稀土元素含量较高。研究表明,该矿床稀土元素以独立矿物（褐帘石、磷铈镧矿、磷钇矿、氟碳铈镧矿、褐钇铌矿）与类质同象（磷灰石、贝塔石、榍石等矿物）两种形式存在,稀土资源以La、Ce轻稀土元素为主,并富含重稀土元素Y。     

Rapid development of negative Ce anomalies in surface waters and contrasting REE patterns in groundwaters associated with Zn–Pb massive sulphide deposits

Ground and surface waters collected from two undisturbed Zn–Pb massive sulphide deposits (the Halfmile Lake and Restigouche deposits) and active mines in the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), NB, Canada were analysed for the rare earth elements (REE). REE contents are highly variable in waters of the BMC, with higher contents typical of waters with higher Fe and lower pH. There are significant differences between ground- and surface waters and between groundwaters from different deposits. The REE contents of surface waters are broadly similar within and between deposit areas, although there are spatial variations reflecting differences in pH and redox conditions. Surface waters are characterised by strong negative Ce anomalies ([Ce/Ce*]_NASC as low as 0.08), produced by oxidation of Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺ and preferential removal of Ce⁴⁺ from solution upon leaving the shallow groundwater environment. Groundwaters and seeps typically lack significant Ce anomalies reflecting generally more reducing conditions in the subsurface environment and indicating that Ce oxidation is a rapid process in the surface waters. Deeper groundwaters at the Halfmile Lake deposit are characterised by REE patterns that are similar to the host lithologies, whereas most groundwaters at the Restigouche deposit have LREE-depleted patterns compared to NASC. Halfmile Lake deposit groundwaters have generally lower pH values, whereas Restigouche deposit groundwaters show greater heavy REE-complexation by carbonate ions. Shallow waters at the Halfmile Lake and Stratmat Main Zone deposits have unusual patterns which reflect either the adsorption of light REE onto colloids and fracture-zone minerals and/or precipitation of REE–phosphate minerals. Middle REE-enrichment is typical for ground- and surface waters and is highest for neutral pH waters. The labile portion of stream sediments are generally more middle REE-enriched than total sediment and surface waters indicating that the REE are removed from solution by adsorption to Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides in the order middle REE≥light REE>heavy REE.     

南岭地区高度演化花岗岩类的稀土元素模型

本文应用现有的理论模型和矿物／熔体分配系数讨论南岭地区高度演化花岗岩类的ＲＥＥ模型，包括重稀土富集型和稀土亏损型。在花岗岗岩浆分异演化过程中，副矿物（尤其是稀土矿物）的晶出种类，顺序和物理化学条件是控制ＲＥＥ强烈分馏的关键因素。ＲＥＥ分布型式不能简单地作为鉴别岩石成因的标志。     

Thorium-poor monazite and columbite-(Fe) mineralization in the Gleibat Lafhouda carbonatite and its associated iron-oxide-apatite deposit of the Ouled Dlim Massif,South Morocco

Recent exploration work in South Morocco revealed the occurrence of several carbonatite bodies, including the Paleoproterozoic Gleibat Lafhouda magnesiocarbonatite and its associated iron oxide mineralization, recognized here as iron-oxide-apatite (IOA) deposit type. The Gleibat Lafhouda intrusion is hosted by Archean gneiss and schist and not visibly associated with alkaline rocks. Metasomatized micaceous rocks occur locally at the margins of the carbonatite outcrop and were identified as glimmerite fenite type. Rare earth element (REE) and Nb mineralization is mainly linked to the associated IOA mineralization and is represented by monazite-(Ce) and columbite-(Fe) as major ore minerals. The IOA mineralization mainly consists of magnetite and hematite that usually contain large apatite crystals, quartz and some dolomite. Monazite-(Ce) is closely associated with fluorapatite and occurs as inclusions within the altered parts of apatite and along cracks or as separate phases near apatite. Monazite shows no zonation patterns and very low Th contents (<0.4 wt%), which would be beneficial for commercial extraction of the REE and which indicates monazite formation from apatite as a result of hydrothermal volatile-rich fluids. Similar monazite-apatite mineralization and chemistry also occurs at depth within the carbonatite, although the outcropping carbonatite is barren, suggesting an irregular REE ore distribution within the carbonatite body. The barren carbonatite contains some tiny unidentified secondary Nb-Ta-U phases, synchysite and monazite. Niobium mineralization is commonly represented by anhedral minerals of columbite-(Fe) which occur closely associated with magnetite-hematite and host up to 78 wt% Nb₂O₅, 7 wt% Ta₂O₅ and 1.6 wt% Sc₂O₃. This association may suggest that columbite-(Fe) precipitated by an interaction of Nb-rich fluids with pre-existing Fe-rich minerals or as pseudomorphs after pre-existing Nb minerals like pyrochlore. Our results most strongly suggest that the studied mineralization is economically important and warrants both, further research and exploration with the ultimate goal of mineral extraction.