Iron–phosphorus relationship in the iron and phosphorite ores of Egypt

Iron and phosphorite ores are very common in the geological record of Egypt and exploitable for economic purposes. In some cases these deposits belong together to the same geographic and geologic setting. The most common deposits include phosphorites, glauconites, and iron ores. Phosphorites are widely distributed as a belt in the central and southern part of Egypt. Sedimentary iron ores include oolitic ironstone of Aswan area and karstified iron ore of Bahria Oasis. Glauconites occur in the Western Desert associated with phosphorites and iron ores. As these ores are exploitable and phosphorus in iron ores and iron in phosphorites are considered as gangue elements, the iron–phosphorus relationship is examined in these deposits to clarify their modes of occurrences and genetic relationship based on previously published results.Phosphorus occurs mainly as carbonate fluorapatite (francolite). Iron, on the other hand, occurs in different mineralogical forms such as glauconites, hematite, limonite and goethite.In P-rich rocks (phosphorites) no relationship is observed between iron and phosphorus, which in turn indicates that the FeP model is unlikely to interpret the origin of the late Cretaceous phosphorites and the association of phosphorites and glauconites in Egypt. In Fe-rich rocks (iron ores and glauconites) also no relationship between iron and phosphorus is observed. The present work, therefore, does not support the hypothesis that there is a genetic relationship between phosphorus and iron in sedimentary rocks.     

Depositional environments of the Senonian chert, phosphorite and oil shale sequence in Israel as deduced from their organic matter composition

In the Upper Cretaceous sequence of the Negev (southern Israel) the organic matter in phosphorites and cherts differs from that associated with oil shales in its higher content of humic substances and lower kerogen content, and in its more intensive microbial alteration. The n-alkane distribution pattern of the oil shales, phosphorites and cherts indicates that marine biota, probably algae, are the main organic precursors of their organic matter. In some of the oil shales, however, some contribution of terrestrial organic matter is also evident. Similar high phytane/pristane ratios indicate that the organic matter in the oil shales as well as in the phosphorites and cherts accumulated under reducing conditions. The main differences in the organic matter composition are attributed to early diagenetic processes rather than to different biotic precursors or to late modifications due to temperature-induced maturation. The depositional model suggested for the sequence involves upwelling conditions at the boundary between the deep Tethys and the shallow shelf, which induced high organic productivity deep into the inner shelf. Bottom water circulation enabled intensive microbial alteration of the organic matter, followed by a winnowing process leading to phosphorite formation. Since humification is considered an oxygen-consuming reaction, these processes favoured the formation of oxygen-enriched humic substances and the oxidation of humic substances already present. These humic substances are relatively resistant to further alteration and their conversion into kerogen is thus retarded. Subsequently, syndepositional tectonic activity resulted in the introduction of less saline water, restriction of bottom-water circulation and the establishment of a density stratification in the water body. Consequently, aeration of the bottom layer and the sediments was inhibited, microbial alteration was reduced and later winnowing processes were prevented. Such conditions favoured the formation of kerogen directly, rather than through humic substances, and also favoured the preservation of most of the organic matter in the form of oil shale deposits instead of phosphorites.     

Effect of the depositional environment on the compositional variations among the phosphorite deposits in Egypt

Late Cretaceous economic phosphorites from the Red Sea, Nile Valley, and Abu Tartur areas, Egypt, show distinct variations in the lithology of associated sediments, mineralogy of nonphosphatic constituents, and distributions of major and trace elements. In the Red Sea area, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with laminated black shales, and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and calcite, ankerite, and pyrite cements. In the Nile Valley, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with chert, marl, and sandstone and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and calcite and chalcedony cements. In the Abu Tartur Plateau, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with laminated black shales, and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and ankerite and pyrite cements. The phosphorites studied also show distinct variations in major- and trace-element concentrations. The Abu Tartur phosphorites have higher contents of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K₂O, Co, Nb, Pb, Sr, Th, Y, and Zr and lower SiO₂, Ba, and U contents as compared to those in the Red Sea and Nile Valley areas. The positive correlations between Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, K₂O, Nb, Y, and Zr suggest the detrital origin of these constituents.Similarity in the phosphatic constituents, which were derived from outside the depositional sites, and variations in the lithology of associated sediments and the mineralogy and geochemistry of the nonphosphatic constituents, which reflect the conditions at the depositional sites, suggest that the variations in the depositional environment of the phosphorites are the potential controlling factor of the compositional variations among these phosphorites. The abundance of black shales in the Red Sea and Abu Tartur areas, as well as the occurrence of ankerite and pyrite as cementing materials for the phosphatic constituents, might reflect reducing conditions in these areas, while the abundance of siliciclastic sediments and calcite and chalcedony cements suggests oxidizing conditions in the Nile Valley. The reducing conditions in the Red Sea and Abu Tartur areas were probably developed within the pre-existing depressions in a shelf environment. These depressions might have formed as a result of a change in the movements of the North Atlantic, Eurasian, and African Plates during the late Santonian, which led to transgressive inversion of rifts along northern Egypt and consequent folding in the continental interior. The higher contents of detrital components in the Abu Tartur phosphorites compared to the Red Sea and Nile Valley areas suggest more detrital inputs during the deposition of the phosphorites in Abu Tartur. The products of the diagenesis and weathering of these deposits also reflect the variations in the depositional conditions.     

Phosphorites,glass ramps and carbonate factories: The evolution of an epicontinental sea and a late Palaeozoic upwelling system (Phosphoria Rock Complex)

The Permian Phosphoria Rock Complex of the western USA contains an enigmatic assemblage of bioelemental rocks (i.e. phosphorites and cherts) that accumulated in a depositional system with no modern analogue. This study utilizes detailed sedimentological, stratigraphic and petrographic examination to evaluate the genetic relations of phosphorites, spiculitic chert and carbonates of the Ervay cycle (depositional sequence) and propose a unified oceanographic model for their deposition. The Ervay cycle contains three marine and one terrestrial facies association, each of which composes the bulk of a single lithostratigraphic unit. The marine facies associations include: (i) granular phosphorites (Retort Member); (ii) spiculitic cherty dolostones (Tosi Member); and (iii) marine to peritidal carbonates (Ervay Member). Red beds and intercalated gypsum (Goose Egg Formation) accumulated in the vast desert adjacent to the sea. The three marine members are chronostratigraphically distinct, successive and conformably stacked. They are not coeval facies belts. They reflect the progressive evolution of the epicontinental sea from the location of: (i) authigenic phosphogenesis (lowstand to transgression); to (ii) a glass ramp with biosiliceous (sponge) deposition (transgression); to (iii) a carbonate ramp (regression). This succession of switching biochemical sediment factories records the evolution of sea-level, nutrient supply, upwelling, oxygenation and dissolved Si. Intense upwelling, potentially coupled with aeolian input, led to sedimentary condensation and phosphogenesis. Decreased upwelling intensity during transgression increased oxygenation sufficiently for a siliceous sponge benthos. Sponges were favoured over biocalcifiers due to elevated dissolved silica and a low carbonate saturation state. The cessation of sponge dominance and transition to a carbonate ramp occurred due to decreasing upwelling intensity, Si drawdown and an increased carbonate saturation state. These results provide insight into the role of Si loading in faunal turnover on glass ramps and highlight how differences in dissolved Si utilizers in pre-Cretaceous versus post-Cretaceous upwelling systems influence the resultant deposits.     

华南震旦纪和寒武纪磷块岩沉积环境探讨

本文从八方面探讨磷块岩沉积环境:(1)含磷岩系岩石组合;(2)磷块岩矿床与海水进退及构造运动的关系;(3)磷块岩的纬度分布与古气候条件;(4)磷块岩沉积的古地貌特点;(5)磷块岩沉积的地球化学条件;(6)磷块岩沉积的生物作用;(7)磷块岩沉积的水动力条件;(8)磷质来源。通过上述分析,不难看出,中国南方震旦纪及寒武纪磷块岩主要形成于热带-亚热带,岛屿罗列,呈半封闭状态的华南陆表海盆地。靠近古岛群的浅海湾、泻湖及水下隆起(高地)的周围,似乎是最有利的成矿坏境。     

Rare earth elements and sulfur and strontium isotopes of upper Cretaceous phosphorites in Egypt

Upper Cretaceous Phosphorites from different localities in Egypt were analyzed for their rare earth elements (REEs) contents and sulfur and strontium isotopes to examine the effect of depositional conditions versus diagenesis on these parameters.The negative Ce and Eu anomalies of the study phosphorites suggest its formation under reducing conditions. However, chondrite-normalized REEs patterns show relative enrichments of LREEs over the HREEs, which is obviously different from the seawater REEs pattern suggesting post-depositional modifications on the REEs distributions during diagenesis. The difference in the REEs concentrations and Ce anomalies among the study localities as well as the similarity between the REEs patterns of these phosphorites and associated black shales might support this interpretation.The concentration of structural SO₄²⁻ (0.6-3.7%) and their δ³⁴S values (+0.5 to -20‰) in the upper Cretaceous phosphorites in Egypt suggest the formation of these phosphorites in the zone of sulfate reduction. On the other hand, the sulfur isotopes in the pyrite from the study phosphorites (δ³⁴S = +4.6‰ − 23‰ with an average of −7.7‰) are attributed to the influence of seawater from which pyrite was formed during diagenesis. The difference between the δ³⁴S values in the phosphorites (all are positive values) and those in the associated pyrite (mostly negative values) reflect an asymmetric sulfate and sulfide sulfur isotopic composition due to the formation of francolite (source of sulfate) and pyrite (source of sulfide) in different conditions and/or process.The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of the upper Cretaceous phosphorites in Egypt are very close to the marine values during the Campanian-Maastrichtian time and their average (0.707622) is more or less comparable to the average ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of the Cretaceous-Eocene Tethyan phosphorites. This suggests no post-depositional alteration (i.e. diagenetic effect) on the Sr isotopic composition of these phosphorites.     

富磷矿三阶段动态成矿模式:黔中开阳式高品位磷矿成矿机制

震旦系陡山沱组沉积期形成的黔中开阳、瓮安富磷矿沉积区,矿石产量大、品位高,是国内外重要的磷矿资源产区。黔中磷矿主要分布于黔中古陆周缘的滨浅海环境中,矿石类型以碎屑状磷块岩为主,间夹原生泥晶磷块岩、生物结构磷块岩和次生土状结构磷块岩。开阳式高品位磷块岩的动态沉积成矿过程通常为“三阶段成矿”: 第一阶段为初始成磷作用阶段,在新元古代大规模成磷背景下,上升洋流携带深部富磷海水进入滨浅海地区,并通过生物化学作用使磷质聚集并形成原生磷块岩沉积;第二阶段为簸选成矿作用阶段,高能波浪、风暴水流对原生磷块岩持续的破碎、磨蚀、搬运和再沉积过程中,簸选去除了原生沉积物中的陆源细碎屑、砂泥质成分,保留并聚集磷质碎屑颗粒,形成品位较高的碎屑状矿石;第三阶段为淋滤作用阶段,海平面升降变化使之前形成矿石受暴露事件影响,遭受强烈的风化淋滤作用,碎屑状磷矿石内的碳酸盐岩胶结物和白云石条带被淋滤运移,导致矿层发育大量溶蚀孔洞,甚至形成土状磷块岩,矿石品位再次得到大幅度提升。三阶段成矿作用随古地理条件和海平面变化在沉积成岩过程中多期次、动态进行,最终形成工业价值极高的磷矿石。     

Forms of Iron in the Phosphorites of Abu—Tartur Area,Egypt

The Campanian-Maastrichtian phosphatic deposits in Egypt,called the Duwi Forma-tion,comprise a part of the extensive Middle East to North African phosphogenic province of Late Cretaceous to Paleogene age.The province holds the greatest accumulation of phosphorites in the geological history,possibly in excess of 70 billion metric tons.The phosphate resources in Egypt alone exceed 3 billion metric tons.Two-third of these three billions occur only in the Abu-Tartur area.Among the phosphorite deposits in Egypt,the phosphorites of the Abu-Tartur area are characterized by high contents of iron ranging from 3% to 7% with an average of 5%.The detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies on the Abu-Tartur phosphorites revealed that iron is found in the form of pyrite,ankerite,clay minerals,microinclusions,and iron oxide.Pyrite,which is the major fraction,occurs as filling cement and partial to complete teplacement of phosphatic grains and confined to the fresh phosphorites while iron oxide occurs as cryp-tocrystalline aggregates of red to brown particles and is confined to the weathered outcrops.Ex-clusive relations between pyrite in the fresh phosphorite samples inside the Abu-Tartur mine and iron oxide in the equivalent horizon of the weathered exposure indicated that iron oxide was formed by the oxidation of pyrite as a result of weathering.All of these forms harm the quality of ore,manufacturing processes,and the produced phosphoric acid and fertilizers.     

陕南天台山、茶店一带磷块岩的时代和成因特征

陕西南部汉中天台山、勉县茶店和略阳何家岩、金家河一带磷块岩的时代,目前有三种看法,即:泥盆纪、震旦纪和寒武纪。这一带磷块岩的成因也比较复杂。在磷酸盐沉积、成岩以后,又受到变质、褶皱、断裂和水溶液活动影响。本文对天台山、茶店一带的磷块岩的成矿时代和生成特点提出一些初步意见。     

Geochemistry of basal Cambrian black shales and cherts from the Northern Tarim Basin,Northwest China: Implications for depositional setting and tectonic history

Black shales and thin-bedded cherts in the basal Cambrian are widespread worldwide and they carry important information on the formation of sedimentary basins and on the tectonic history. We studied the geochemical signatures of the early Cambrian black shales and bedded cherts from the Northern Tarim Basin, China, with the objectives of understanding the depositional setting of these rocks and inferring the tectonic history in the region. Twenty two black shales, ten cherts, and two nodular phosphorites were collected from two outcrops at Xiaoerbulake and Sugaitebulake in the Northern Tarim Basin, spanning vertical sections of 8.8 and 7.5 m, respectively. A suite of techniques, including field investigations, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, trace element, rare earth element (REE), and isotope geochemistry, were employed to characterize the geochemical signatures of these rocks. Field evidence indicates that the black shales and bedded cherts are over- and underlain by dolomites, suggesting a shallow marine depositional environment. Mineralogical and trace element data suggest that the Tarim black shales and cherts were deposited in a suboxic continental shelf environment, and hydrothermal activity may have extracted certain trace elements from mafic continental crust and concentrated them in the sedimentary basin. REE characteristics for the cherts are very similar to those that are known to be deposited in pelagic ocean floor settings, suggesting that the hydrothermal fluids may be derived from the infant southern Tianshan Ocean in the north of the Tarim Basin. Os isotope signatures at the time of deposition (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os_i = 1.1–2.7) are typical of crustal signatures, and the radiogenic Os isotope signatures rule out the mantle as a possible source of Os and other metals. A positive correlation between ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and ε_Nd is consistent with upper crust-derived basin sediments that contain a variable contribution of hydrothermal fluids possibly derived from ancient mafic continental crust. These trace element, REE, and isotope systematics collectively suggest that incorporation of hydrothermal fluids derived from ancient, mafic continental crust combined with deposition in relatively reducing conditions may have controlled the chemical and isotopic compositions of these rocks. We infer that the hydrothermal fluid was carried to the continental shelf by upwelling during the initial stages of formation of the southern Tianshan Ocean, where the fluid interacted with thinned, mafic crustal basement lithologies and was subsequently incorporated into the black shales and bedded cherts in the Northern Tarim Basin. This study provides important geochemical evidence for the creation of the Tianshan Ocean, which is a result of break-up of the Rodinia Supercontinent during the early Cambrian.     

扬子地台早寒武世梅树村早期的古地理及其磷块岩展布特征

梅树村早期的地层,是在海退背景下形成的一套富含小壳动物化石的白云岩、磷块岩和硅质岩等岩石组合,主要分布扬子西区。该期的古地理轮廓,是在灯影期古地理的基础上演化而来的,是一个四周被深水环绕的较为特殊的碳酸盐台地。工业磷块岩主要分布于靠近“康滇古岛”东侧较拗陷的地区,成磷盆地呈近于南北向带状依次间隔展布,可能是受近南北向同生断裂和近东西向隆起、拗陷的控制有关。     

沉积磷块岩结构类型、成因及成矿阶段

磷块岩的岩石类型和成矿阶段划分是磷块岩研究的一项基础性工作,早在50年代后期,叶连俊等人就对磷块岩及其分类进行过研究[1],随着沉积学的发展,尤其是近年来碳酸盐岩研究的进展,磷块岩岩石学研究也有了一些新的突破。磷块岩分类从矿体形态(层状、透镜状、结核状)、大地构造(地台型、地槽型)等分类走向了结构成因分类。在这方面,工作较多,较系统的有美国的S.R.Riggs和法国的M.S1ansky[9][10]。我国的孙枢、陈其英、赵东旭[2][3]及孟祥化[4]、周茂基[5]、东野[6]等人也先后对磷块岩的结构成因类型进行过研究。这些研究给磷块岩的分类奠定了一个很好的基础。     

中国东部震旦纪和寒武纪磷块岩的结构成因类型及其沉积相和环境

磷块岩矿床的形成总是同特定的沉积相和沉积环境相联系的。从古地理分布看,它们多半产在该成矿时期的海侵前缘带、陆表海和深水盆地的过度部位或水下高地的周围地带。磷矿层多出现于海侵序列的底部或下部,但是含磷岩系本身则既可以是退积式的,也可以是进积式的。     

Geochemistry of Cadmium in Mesozoic Phosphorites of the East European Platform

Cadmium is the most toxic admixture in mineral fertilizers. The Cd concentration in Mesozoic phosphorites, which are widespread in the East European Platform, has not been investigated. The present study was stimulated by the scanty and contradictory nature of the published data on this issue. We determined Cd concentration in 21 phosphorite samples from major deposits and checked the reliability of obtained results by external replicate analyses. It has been established that the Cd concentration in phosphorites varies from 5 ppm in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous basin to 2 ppm in the Late Cretaceous basin. Cadmium does not enter the structure of phosphate and sulfide minerals. The Cd concentration is independent of the phosphorus abundance. However, all studied samples show a positive correlation of Cd with organic matter mainly contained in phosphates, supporting the biophilic nature of Cd. Mesozoic phosphorites of the East European Platform accumulated in epicontinental basins. They are significantly depleted in Cd relative to Mesozoic–Cenozoic phosphorites in pericontinental basins of the southern margin of the Tethys Ocean. The Cd concentration is more stable in Mesozoic phosphorites than in Mesozoic–Cenozoic deposits.     

Structural CO2 in the Apatite of the Late Cretaceous Phosphorite Resources in Egypt: Effect on the Crystal Chemistry and Geologic Implications

Abstract: Phosphorite deposits in Egypt, known as the Duwi Formation, are a part of the Middle East to North Africa phospho‐genic province of late Cretaceous to Paleogene age. Based on the petrographical observation, the phosphatic grains in the phosphorites are classified into phosphatic mudclasts and phosphatic bioclasts. Both of them are composed of francolite. The structural CO₂ contents in the francolite range from 3.3 to 7.2 % with an average of 5.3 %. Results indicated that the substitution with CO₃^2‐ of PO₄^3‐ in the francolite decreases the unit cell volume and a‐cell dimension, and increases the c/a ratio. Effect is more obvious in the a‐cell dimension; therefore, it is more significant in distinction between the different apatite species. Lack of covariance between structural CO₂ contents in the francolite and the carbonate minerals contents may render the supposition that the phosphorites formed as a result of replacement of preexisting calcareous sediments is doubtful. Similarity in CO₂ content in both weathered and fresh samples indicates that the structural CO₂ content in the phosphorites is not affected by weathering, and reflects the conditions and CO₂ concentration of the depositional environment. Similarity in mineralogy and CO₂ contents in the different phosphatic grains and higher CO₂ content in the Egyptian phosphorites compared with the authigenic phosphates of Peru margin, which formed by the same mechanism as the Duwi phosphorites, suggest that the phosphatic grains in the Duwi Formation were francolitized during diagenesis by introducing CO₂ from the surrounding pore water and diagenesis took place at an elevated temperature. Scattered values of structural CO₂ contents suggest the reworking origin of the phosphatic grains in the late Cretaceous phosphorites in Egypt.     

鲕粒,豆粒磷块岩的显微结构和生成特点

晚震旦世陡山沱组和早寒武世渔户村组、辛集组磷矿中有各种鮞粒、豆粒磷块岩。豆粒、鮞粒内核的成分和结构复杂,有来自陆地的各种岩石砂屑、细砾,也有盆内沉积物破碎成的各种内碎屑。鮞粒、豆粒的壳层是同心纹层状磷灰石,它是内核在富磷海水扰动中逐层淀积而成。大部分豆粒、鮞粒在滨海高能浅水中与陆源砂、砾和岔内碎屑沉积在一起,少量鮞粒则沉积在滨外深水低能环境巾。豆粒、鮞粒和碎屑等沉积后又被不同物质胶结。     

The Paragenesis of Organic Matter,Phosphorus, and Uranium in Marine Sediments

Using some uranium deposits and recent U-bearing sediments as examples, it is shown that all U-bearing rocks are characterized by an association of organic matter and calcium phosphate, irrespective of the quantitative relationship between these components. A considerable proportion of these components was delivered into sediments with remains of marine planktonic and nektonic organisms. Along with organic matter, calcium phosphate played a significant role in uranium concentration. This is related to a high sorption ability of the calcium phosphate. Uranium accumulated during diagenesis as a result of diffusion exchange between bottom and interstitial waters. The combination of anoxic bottom environment with high bioproductivity in upper aerated waters, a typical phenomenon in oceanic upwelling zones, is the most favorable factor of uranium concentration in the sedimentary process. This determines the stable paragenetic association of organic matter, phosphorus, and uranium in marine sediments, such as black shales and organogenic phosphate deposits.     

Origin of Cenomanian nodular phosphorites in the Dnieper-Donets Depression: Geochemical aspect of the problem

The results of the study of bioecological and geochemical sedimentation conditions in the Cenomanian basin are presented. Close relation between phosphogenesis and formation of organic-rich clays and black shales is demonstrated. It is shown that phosphorite nodules and phosphate plates in Cenomanian sands formed at acid-base barriers related to the squeezing of acid phosphorus-containing interstitial waters from the sand-underlying clays and the conservation of alkaline marine bottom waters in sands. The proposed new phosphorite formation model reflects the input of large amounts of P₂O₅ from land, its precipitation by planktonic organisms and concentration in black shales and clays, the mobilization and accumulation of phosphorus in interstitial waters, and its postdiagenetic redistribution in sands and their erosion zones. It is emphasized that phosphogenesis is associated with synsedimentary folding in the Cenomanian basin.     

Phosphate-rich sedimentary rocks: Significance for organic facies and petroleum exploration

Phosphorus-bearing rocks and sediments can be divided into two genetically distinct classes: phosphatic shales or limestones and phosphorites. Phosphatic shales are primary sediments in which phosphate nodules or micronodules have formed diagenetically by precipitation of calcium phosphates derived mainly from organic phosphorus. The nodules form in reducing environments at shallow depths within the sediments, where loss of phosphate by diffusion to the overlying water column is minimized. Highly biogenic sediments containing large amounts of organic matter and some fine clastic debris provide ideal environments for the formation of phosphate nodules.Phosphorites, in contrast, represent concentrated accumulations of reworked phosphate nodules which originated in phosphatic shales or limestones. Currents, wave action, recrystallization, and erosion and resedimentation are important mechanisms in the concentration process.Phosphatic shales and limestones may become excellent oil source rocks if thermal maturity is achieved. They are useful facies indicators for anoxic or nearly anoxic depositional environments, and are often associated with restricted basins, or, during certain geologic periods, with broad shelves developed during transgressions. Phosphorites, in contrast, are often correlated with sea-level regressions or uplifts. They are modest source rocks because of their low organic carbon contents and the fact that they were reworked under oxidizing conditions. Nevertheless, because phosphorites are derived from, and often grade into, phosphatic shales, they also are of potential utility in the search for oil source beds.     

REE geochemistry of Early Cambrian phosphorites from Gezhongwu Formation at Zhijin, Guizhou Province, China

The Cambrian Gezhongwu Formation in Southwest China is the lowest Cambrian phosphorite unit. The Formation belongs to the Meishucun stage with small shelly fossils. Rare-earth element (REE)data from the Gezhongwu phosphorites of Zhijin documented the depositional conditions. The total REE concentrations are high in the Gezhongwu phosphorites, which are especially rich in yttrium. The PAASnormalized REE patterns of the Gezhongwu phosphorites are characterized by negative Ce anomalies and slight enrichment of MREE, as being hat-shaped. The hat-shaped patterns suggest that the REE originated from depositional environments rather than from subsequent diagenesis. The negative Ce anomalies indicate that the depositional environments are oxic. The positive Eu anomaly, the high total REE and the hatshaped REE pattern revealed contributions from the normal marine environment mixed with hydrothermal water to the REE budget of the Gezhongwu phosphorites.