X-ray crystallography and mineral chemistry of bastnaesite from Kanigiri granite,Prakasam district,Andhra Pradesh,India

The authors report the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and geochemical studies on bastnaesites (lanthanum cerium fluoro-carbonate) hosted in alkali Kanigiri Granite of the Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The XRD pattern of the investigated bastnaesite displays sharply-defined reflections. The observed d-spacings of the bastnaesite are in very close agreement with those published for bastnaesite standard in International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) Card No. 11–340. The calculated unit cell parameters (a _o ; c _o ) and unit cell volume (V) of the studied bastnaesite (a _o 7.1301–7.1413 Å, c _o 9.7643–9.7902Å and V 429.8940–432.3875 ų) are almost equal to values published for bastnaesite standard (c _o 7.1290 Å, c _o 9.7744 Å and V 430.19 ų) in the relevant data card. Geochemical data of bastnaesite reveals high content of Ce (mean 27.22%) followed by La (mean 16.82%), Nd (mean 6.12%) and Pr (mean 1.91%). Compared to light REE (LREE) content (mean 437165 ppm), heavy REE (HREE) content (mean 5867 ppm) is drastically low, with unusually high LREE/HREE ratio (mean 80). The chondrite-normalised plot also exhibits drastic enrichment of LREE relative to HREE with pronounced negative Euanomaly (mean Eu/Eu* = 0.15). High (LREE) _N / (HREE) _N , (La/Lu) _N , (La/Yb) _N and (Ce/Yb) _N ratios reveal higher fractionation of LREE relative to HREE. The rare earth element (REE) contents of the studied bastnaesite are very close to REE contents of bastnaesite hosted in alkali syenite from Madagascar. The presence of bastnaesite in Kanigiri Granite and soils derived from it enhances the scope of further exploration for bastnaesite in several bodies of alkaline rocks and alkali granitoids present along the eastern margins of the Cuddapah basin, Andhra Pradesh.     

The geochemical characteristics of aqueous rare-earth elements in shallow karst groundwater in Guiyang City,China

Fifty-seven shallow groundwater samples were collected from Guiyang karst basin, China, to analyze the aqueous rare-earth elements in low-water seasons and it is shown that the total amount of rare-earth elements (ΣREE) in karst groundwater is exceedingly low compared with that in carbonate rocks or weathering crusts of carbonate rocks, and ranges from 0.01 to 0.43, from 0.03 to 0.27, from 0.03 to 0.19 and from 0.05 to 1.38 μg·L-1 for dolomite, dolomitic & limestone, limestone and clastic rock aquifer, respectively. Both distributions and contents of rare-earth elements (REE) in karst groundwater reflect the lithology of host rocks or weathering crusts of carbonate rocks through which groundwater flows. The chondrite-normalized patterns show a non-flat profile with higher enrichment of slightly light rare-earth elements (LREE) than heavy rare-earth elements (HREE), prominent fractionation between LREE and HREE, negative Ce anomalies and negative or positive Eu anomalies. There is more obvious fractionation between LREE and HREE in groundwater than that in carbonate rocks and their weathering crusts due to high contents of HCO3? and PH in groundwater. In shallow karst groundwater, REE(CO3)n2n-3 (n=1 and 2) is the main inorganic species of REE. But for a clastic rock aquifer, both REESO4+ and REECO3+ are the main inorganic species of REE. Species of REE in groundwater is closely associated with the hydrochemical type of groundwater which is predominated by the lithology of host rocks, groundwater-rock interaction and weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks.     

Origin of natural sulfur-metal chimney in the Tangyin hydrothermal field,Okinawa Trough: constraints from rare earth element and sulfur isotopic compositions

For the first time, we present the rare earth element (REE) and sulfur isotopic composition of hydrothermal precipitates recovered from the Tangyin hydrothermal field (THF), Okinawa Trough at a water depth of 1206 m. The natural sulfur samples exhibit the lowest ΣREE concentrations (ΣREE= 0.65×10^–6–4.580×10^–6) followed by metal sulfides (ΣREE=1.71×10^–6–11.63×10^–6). By contrast, the natural sulfur-sediment samples have maximum ΣREE concentrations (ΣREE=11.54×10^–6–33.06×10^–6), significantly lower than those of the volcanic and sediment samples. Nevertheless, the δEu, δCe, (La/Yb)_N, La/Sm, (Gd/Yb)_N and normalized patterns of the natural sulfur and metal sulfide show the most similarity to the sediment. Most hydrothermal precipitate samples are characterized by enrichments of LREE (LREE/HREE=10.09–24.53) and slightly negative Eu anomalies or no anomaly (δEu=0.48–0.99), which are different from the hydrothermal fluid from sediment-free mid-oceanic ridges and back-arc basins, but identical to the sulfides from the Jade hydrothermal field. The lower temperature and more oxidizing conditions produced by the mixing between seawater and hydrothermal fluids further attenuate the leaching ability of hydrothermal fluid, inducing lower REE concentrations for natural sulfur compared with metal sulfide; meanwhile, the negative Eu anomaly is also weakened or almost absent. The sulfur isotopic compositions of the natural sulfur (δ³⁴S=3.20‰–5.01‰, mean 4.23‰) and metal sulfide samples (δ³⁴S=0.82‰–0.89‰, mean 0.85‰) reveal that the sulfur of the chimney is sourced from magmatic degassing.     

Behaviour of REE and mass balance calculations in a lateritic profile over chlorite schists in South Cameroon

An in situ weathering profile overlying chlorite schists in the Mbalmayo-Bengbis formations (South Cameroon) was chosen for the study of the behaviour of REE and the evaluation of geochemical mass balance. After physical and mineralogical studies, the chlorite schists and the undisturbed weathered materials were chemically analyzed for major elements (X-ray fluorescence and titrimetry) and REE (ICP-MS). The behaviour of the REE in the Mbalmayo weathering system was established in comparison with the REE of the reference parent rock. Mass balance calculations were applied to both major elements and REE. The mineralogy of the materials was determined with the aid of a Philips 1720, diffractometer. The chlorite schists of the Mbalmayo sector show low REE contents (Σ=153.44 ppm). These rocks are relatively rich in LREE (about 125 times the chondritic value) and relatively poor in HREE (about 20 times the chondritic value). The REE diagram normalized to chondrites shows a slightly split graph ((La/Yb)_N=6.18) with marked enrichment in LREE (LREE/HREE=9.50) in relation to HREE. Moreover, these spectra do not present any Ce anomaly, but a slightly positive Eu anomaly. The imperfectly evolved profile, whose materials are genetically linked, shows an atypical behaviour of REE. In effect, the LREE are more mobile than the HREE during weathering ((La/Yb)NASC<1) with weak Ce anomalies. This has been rarely reported in lateritic profiles characterized by higher HREE mobility than LREE during weathering processes with high Ce anomalies. This is either due to the difference in the stability of REE-bearing minerals, or to the weak acidic to basic pH conditions (6.70<pH<7.80), or even due to the average evolution of the weathering materials. The pathway of the REE along the profile is as follows: (1) leaching in the saprolites and summit of the profile, except for Ce, which precipitates very weakly in the nodular materials and the coarse saprolite materials, (2) at the base of the profile, solutions come in contact with chlorite schist formations, at this level, the pH increases (pH=7.79), HREE and a part of LREE partially void of Ce precipitate and (3) the other part of LREE precipitates further up in the profile. The geochemical mass balance calculations reveal that these elements are leached in the same phases as the relatively high Si, Al, K and Fe²⁺ contents.     

X-ray crystallography of uraninites associated with the albitite belt of western India: Evidence for the high-temperature origin of uranium and associated mineralisation

X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on the radioactive ore samples from various parts of Rajasthan and Haryana have revealed the presence of several uranium and other atomic mineral occurrences in the albitite belt of western India. The primary uranium minerals (PUMs) are uraninite and brannerite, whereas, the secondary uranium minerals (SUMs) show considerable speciations: phosphate, silicate, hydrous oxide hydrate, and vanadate. Multiple oxides (MOs) are davidite, fergusonite, aeschynite-(Y), microlite, samarskite, euxenite, betafite, and columbite-tantalite. The thorium minerals are huttonite, thorite, uranoan-thorite, thorianite, thorutite, and brabantite. The yttrium and REE-bearing minerals are xenotime, britholite, allanite, chevkinite, tritomite, and monazite. It is noted that the measured unit cell dimension (a₀) of the investigated uraninites ranges from 5.4110 Å to 5.4646 Å. The highest unit cell dimension (5.4646 Å) represents a composition (or oxidation grade) of UO_2.05, whereas, the lowest one (5.4110 Å) corresponds to a composition of UO_2.54. Furthermore, it is also apparent that, with increase in oxidation grade, there is a concomitant decrease in unit cell dimension. As most of the values of a_o of uraninites from the albitite belt are high (> 5.45 Å), it may be inferred that the overall temperature of formation of uraninites of the albitite belt was higher (ca. 400°C). However, the low values of a₀ in certain localities could be due to the prevalence of relatively low and fluctuating temperature regimes locally (ca. 400°–100° C). Numerous occurrences of refractory, multiple oxides, and REE minerals, in association with uranium mineralisation, also support a high-temperature origin for the investigated uraninites. Binary data plots of unit cell dimension (a₀) versus oxidation grade/composition (UO_2+x) of uraninites (n = 36) suggest that the gross uranium mineralisation in the albitite belt of western India is mainly linked to regional metamorphism, anatexis, granitic intrusion, metasomatism, and contact metamorphosed granite-pegmatite aureoles and granite-related vein type with hydrothermal overprints, including redistribution of intrinsic sedimentary uranium and its concentration along suitable structural locales. These interpretations are consistent with the known gross geologic features of the albitite belt. Furthermore, the presence of marialite (calcian) in many places in the albitite belt also supports such a contention, as this mineral is known to be restricted to metamorphic and metasomatic environments. The speciation of secondary uranium minerals could be due to the higher oxidation of U⁴⁺ to U⁶⁺ in surface to near-surface conditions and its (U⁶⁺) remobilisation as uranyl ions. The combination of moving uranyl ions with available cations and anions en route caused re-precipitation of U as diversified assemblages of low-temperature uranyl minerals under suitable physicochemical conditions.     

“寨背式”离子吸附型稀土矿床多类型稀土矿化及其成因

赣南寨背离子吸附型稀土矿床产于寨背复式花岗岩体的风化壳中,自20世纪80年代发现以来一直以轻稀土型开采,近年在轻稀土型花岗岩风化壳中发现了重稀土矿。为了探讨轻稀土型花岗岩风化过程中重稀土元素的迁移、分馏和富集机制,本文选择了区内三个具有代表性的风化壳钻孔(ZK1、ZK2和ZK4)对其进行了全相和离子交换相稀土元素地球化学研究。结果显示：钻孔ZK4中离子交换相稀土含量介于14.90×10^-6～835.8×10^-6之间,并富集轻稀土(LREE/HREE=2.28～10.78);钻孔ZK1中离子交换相稀土含量达1470×10^-6(9件样品均值),具有从轻稀土型向重稀土型过渡的配分特征(LREE/HREE=1.30～1.65),并且剖面自上而下显示轻、重稀土逐渐富集的趋势;钻孔ZK2中离子交换相稀土含量为492.4×10^-6(8件样品均值),自上而下稀土配分类型从轻稀土型过渡至重稀土型(LREE/HREE=0.43～2.25),且轻稀土富集在全风化层上部而重稀土则富集在下部。三个钻孔的Nb/Ta和Zr/Hf...     

柴北缘鱼卡地区中侏罗统石门沟组页岩段稀土元素地球化学特征与地质意义

对柴达木盆地北缘(简称柴北缘)鱼卡地区鱼油页1井(YYY-1)页岩段稀土元素地球化学分析,揭示了其对古环境、古物源和古气候的响应,并探讨了对油页岩成矿的影响。分析结果表明:石门沟组页岩段稀土元素总量(ΣREE)为(139.16~342.59)×10~(-6),平均值为236.66×10~(-6),高于北美页岩(NASC)和后太古宙页岩(PASS)。ΣLREE/ΣHREE和(La/Yb)_N等地球化学参数表明,轻重稀土元素分异明显;分布模式为轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素相对亏损。地球化学参数以及La/Yb-ΣREE图解表明,研究区物源主要为上地壳沉积岩和火山岩的混合来源。元素Eu具有明显的负异常,指示沉积水体为缺氧的还原环境,为油页岩中有机质的富集提供良好的保存条件。根据高含量的ΣREE值以及δEu异常值,结合前人对该地区的孢粉研究成果,石门沟组页岩段形成于暖湿的气候条件,为油页岩的形成提供良好的物质来源和保存条件。     

Tveitite-(Y) and REE-enriched fluorite from amazonite pegmatites of the Western Keivy,Kola Peninsula,Russia: Genetic crystal chemistry of natural Ca,REE-fluorides

Tveitite-(Y) as pods up to 10 cm across has been found at Mt. Rovgora, the Western Keivy, Kola Peninsula, Russia, in an albite-quartz-amazonite pegmatite vein related to alkaline granite. Tveitite-(Y) grains (up to 4 cm) are parallel microintergrowths of two isostructural varieties, Ca_9.5Na_1.7Y_5.2Ln_2.0F_42.6 and Ca_11.4Na_1.9Y_4.4Ln_1.4F_42.0. The idealized structural formula (Z = 3) is (Y, Na)₆(Ca, LREE)₆(Ca, Na, HREE)₆(Ca, Na)F₄₂; the simplified formula is (Ca, REE, Na)₁₃(Y, Na)₆F₄₂; space group R \(\bar 3\) a = 17.020, c = 9.679 Å. [Lanthanoides are abbreviated in this paper as Ln, whereas Ln + Y as REE]. Nine fluorite samples containing from 0 to 18 mol % (REE)F₃ were examined by electron microprobe, X-ray powder diffraction, and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of natural yttrofluorite has been determined for the first time (R _aniso = 1.47 %): Fm3m, a = 5.493 Å; the structural formula is (Ca_0.82Y_0.12Ln_0.06)F_2.15. Earlier published and new data show that yttrofluorite containing (REE)F₃ > 20 mol % and REE-enriched fluorite with LREE > Y (HREE) are metastable under room conditions. In nature, tveitite-(Y) is a product of solid-state transformation of metastable yttrofluorite with (REE)F₃ > 20 mol %. Inferred protophases could have been exsolved into tveitite-(Y) variable in composition or tveitite-(Y) + yttrofluorite stable under normal conditions. The formation of tveitite-(Y) requires the erichment of a protophase not only in Y but also in LREE and HREE as stabilizing admixtures regularly distributed by different types of Ca-dominant structural sites. Tveitite-(Y) and yttrofluorite are geochemical indicators of a medium that is not only enriched in Y, Ln, and F, but also depleted in Na, Ca, CO₂ and P.     

Late Archaean mantle metasomatism below eastern Indian craton: Evidence from trace elements,REE geochemistry and Sr—Nd—O isotope systematics of ultramafic dykes

Trace, rare earth elements (REE), Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and O isotope studies have been carried out on ultramafic (harzburgite and lherzolite) dykes belonging to the newer dolerite dyke swarms of eastern Indian craton. The dyke swarms were earlier considered to be the youngest mafic magmatic activity in this region having ages not older than middle to late Proterozoic. The study indicates that the ultramafic members of these swarms are in fact of late Archaean age (Rb-Sr isochron age 2613 ± 177 Ma, Sri ∼ 0.702 ± 0.004) which attests that out of all the cratonic blocks of India, eastern Indian craton experienced earliest stabilization event. Primitive mantle normalized trace element plots of these dykes display enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), pronounced Ba, Nb and Sr depletions but very high concentrations of Cr and Ni. Chondrite normalised REE plots exhibit light REE (LREE) enrichment with nearly flat heavy REE (HREE; (ΣHREE)_N ∼ 2–3 times chondrite, (Gd/Yb)_N ∼ 1). The ε^Nd(t) values vary from +1.23 to -3.27 whereas δ¹⁸O values vary from +3.16‰ to +5.29‰ (average +3.97‰±0.75‰) which is lighter than the average mantle value. Isotopic, trace and REE data together indicate that during 2.6 Ga the nearly primitive mantle below the eastern Indian Craton was metasomatised by the fluid (± silicate melt) coming out from the subducting early crust resulting in LILE and LREE enriched, Nb depleted, variable ε^Nd, low Sr_i(0.702) and low δ¹⁸O bearing EMI type mantle. Magmatic blobs of this metasomatised mantle were subsequently emplaced in deeper levels of the granitic crust which possibly originated due to the same thermal pulse.     

Morphometric data on topotype assemblage of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) droogeri</Emphasis>, foraminifera from Kachchh,Gujarat

For the first time we report alluaudite from India, which is metamict and is hosted in a zoned pegmatite, near Pisangan, Ajmer district, Rajasthan. Alluaudites known till date, all over the world, are non-metamict type. Therefore, the alluaudite reported from the area is the first locality in the world for the metamict-type of alluaudite. The most conspicuous features exhibited by the alluaudite are various types of cracks in different directions and shapes, including its isotropic nature. The calculated crystallographic parameters of the reported alluaudite are: a₀ = 11.9874 Å, b₀ = 12.5144 Å, and c₀ = 6.4136 Å, β = 114.240 with unit-cell volume (V) = 877.31 ų, which are in agreement with the values of alluaudite standard. Geochemical data indicates high content of P (32.30% P₂O₅), Fe (30.2% Fe₂O₃), Mn (10.62% MnO), besides Mg (7.71% MgO), Ca (5.60% CaO), Na (3.40% Na₂O) and Si (2.30% SiO₂), and appreciable amount of water of hydration (3.50% LOI). It is highly radioactive due to uranium (2.28% U₃O₈) and thorium (185 ppm Th). Calculated structural formula of the alluaudite is Na¹⁺_0.59Ca²⁺_0.54Mn²⁺_0.80Mg²⁺_1.02Fe³⁺_2.03Al³⁺_0.037U⁴⁺_0.043P⁵⁺_2.45O₁₂. The chondrite-normalised plot shows enrichment of HREE relative to LREE with pronounced negative Eu-anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.46). Such a high negative Eu-anomaly suggests extremely fractionated nature of the host pegmatite.     

REE Geochemistry and Mineralization Characteristics of the Zudong and Guanxi Granites,Jiangxi Province

Abstract The Zudong and Guanxi granites are original rocks of the ion adsorption-type HREE and LREE deposits in weathering crust of granites. The ∑REE ¹ ∑REE=REE+Y.
value and LREE ² LREE=∑(La-Eu) and HREE=∑(Gd-Lu)+Y.
/ HREE ratio of the Zudong granite are 264 ppm and 0.81-0.24 respectively, and the average Y/∑REE ratio is 35.8-54.5%. This is mainly due to magmatic crystallization and evolution and deuteric metasomatism (albitization, muscovitization and fluorite-doveritization). These alterations resulted in endogenic mineralizations of yttrium-group REE fluorine carbonates, silicates and arsenates. The Guanxi granite is characterized by LREE enrichment (the average LREE/HREE ratio is 2.43).     

江西足洞和关西花岗岩的稀土元素地球化学及矿化特征

足洞和关西岩体分别为花岗岩风化壳离子吸附型重、轻稀土矿床的原岩。足洞岩体的∑REE¹⁾为264ppm,LREE/HREE²⁾值为0.81-024,平均的钇对∑REE占有率为35.8-54.5%。这主要是由于岩浆结晶演化及晚期有交代钠长石化、白云母化和萤石-氟碳钙钇矿化的结果。这些蚀变产生了钇族稀土氟碳酸盐、硅酸盐和砷酸盐等内生矿化作用。     

Compositional characteristics of wolframite in tin deposits,Dupangling, Guangxi

Statistical data on major, trace and rare-earth elements in wolframite from the quartz vein-and greisen-type tin deposits in the Dupangling orefield reveal: (1) The components in wolframite can be divided into two relatively independent groups: the WO₃-Nb-Ta-Sc-REE group, in which WO₃ is negatively correlated with the others and the FeO-MnO-Sn group, in which MnO is negatively correlated with the other two; (2) In general, REE fractionation is not significant, reflected mainly by the separation of Eu from other REE’s. LREE and HREE increase or decrease simultaneously, with HREE being more variable; (3) Nb, Ta, Sc, REE substitute for W, and Sn may enter into wolframite lattice accompanied by Fe-Mn substitution; (4) In contrast to wolframite in quartz veins, which is poor in REE, Nb, Ta and Sc and has highδ Eu values and LREE / HREE and Nb/Ta ratios, wolframite in greisen is rich in REE, Nb, Ta, Sc and has lowδ Eu values and LREE/HREE and Nb/Ta ratios; and (5) The contents and ratios of trace elements and REE partitioning parameters of wolframite can be used as guide for prospecting.     

Compositional variations,chemical weathering,and provenance of sands from the Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata beach areas,Bangladesh

The modal and chemical composition of sands from Cox’s Bazar beach (CBB) and Kuakata beach (KB) areas of Bangladesh has been investigated to infer their maturity, chemical weathering, and provenance signatures. The CBB and KB sands are typically high quartz, low feldspar, and lithic fragments, representing a recycled orogen source. Major element compositions of CBB sands are characterized by high SiO₂ (83.52–89.84 wt%) and low Al₂O₃ (4.39–6.39 wt%), whereas KB sands contained relatively low SiO₂ (63.28–79.14 wt%) and high Al₂O₃ (9.00–11.33 wt%) contents. The major, trace and rare earth element (REE) compositions of beach sands display comparable distribution patterns with enriched Th and SiO₂ for both sands relative to upper continental crust (UCC). Pb, Rb, Y, and Fe for KB sands are little higher than UCC and the rest of the elements are marked depleted for both suites reflecting destruction of plagioclase and K-feldspar during fluvial transportation. The CBB and KB sands are compositionally low mature to immature in nature subsequently classified as subarkose and litharenite, respectively. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for CBB and KB sands show LREE enrichment and nearly flat HREE (La_N/Yb_N, 7.64–9.38 and 5.48–8.82, respectively) coupled with prominent Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*, 0.51–0.72 and 0.52–0.76, respectively), suggesting felsic source provenance. The provenance discrimination diagrams, immobile trace element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Ce/Sc, and Ti/Zr), and REE (∑LREE/HREE, Eu/Eu* and Gd_N/Yb_N) parameters indicate that CBB and KB sands were largely derived from felsic source rocks, with compositions close to average rhyolite, granodiorite, granite, and UCC.     

Distribution of rare earth elements in waters and bottom sediments of mineralized lakes in the eastern Transbaikal region (Russia)

Contents of rare earth elements in waters and bottom sediments are maximum in the most mineralized soda lakes. It is shown that REE occur in waters mainly as carbonate (LnСО₃)⁺ and oxyhydroxide LnO₂H, LnO⁺, (LnO₂)^– complexes, whose activity in the La → Lu series changes in opposite directions. It has been determined that increase of mineralization leads mainly to higher concentrations of the dissolved HREE. Prevalence of the absolute values of MREE and HREE is recorded in basins with the development of bacterial processes. Geochemical barrier for the accumulation of LREE in waters can be represented by fluorcarbonates, whose saturation degree in the soda lake waters can be several orders of magnitude higher than the solubility products (SP). Oxidative and reductive settings in lakes are favorable for the formation of Ce(OH)₄ and Ce(OH)₃, respectively.     

Major Element Compositions and Rare—earth Element Abundaces of Cenozoic Basalts in Eastern China：Implications for a Pressure Control over LREE／HREE Fractionation in Continental Basalt

Major element compositions and rare-earth element (REE) and transition element(Ni,Cr and V) abundances have been determined on 44 basalt samples from eastern China.These basalts have SiO2 contents ranging from 38.63 to 55.24(wt.%),and Na2O K2O from 3.1 to 9.4(wt.%).Ni and Cr abundances are largely variable,respectively falling in ranges 60-605 and 78-1150 ppm.REE abundances,especially light rare-earth elements(LREE), are highly variable.La/Sm and La/Yb ratios vary 2.8 to 7.6 and 1.8 to 8.1. Although the segregation mainly of olivine and clinopyroxene is requested to account for the vari-able and low MgO,CaO/Al2O3,Cr and Ni characteristic of these basalts studied here,the differ-ences in REE composition of the basalts are still related mainly to the partial melting process.Obvious varations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting process.Obvious variations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting processes that took place at different depths,in spite of some variations caused by the fractional crystallization processes.REE abundances and La/Sm and La/Yb ratios systematically decrease with increasing SiO2,which probably indicated that the basaltic magma derived from a deeper level has higher LREE and LREE/HREE ratios than that from a shallower level.As viewed from the fact that the D^Yb/D^La ratios of clinopyroxenes in the basaltic system increase with increasing pressure,the increase of LREE/HUEE ratios with increasing melting depth can be interpreted as the pressure dependence of bulk D^HREE/D^LREE ratios of silicate minerals,in addition to the pressure control over the melting degree.     

New insights into mineralogy and geochemistry of allanite-bearing Mediterranean coastal sands from Northern Greece

Allanite-bearing black coastal sands of Kavala (N. Greece) were studied using a combination of single-crystal XRD, EMPA, μ-XRF, bulk ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, μ-XANES and γ-ray spectrometry. The sands are rich in REE (ΣREE + Y: 4010 to 10,810 mg/kg), Th (236–1205 mg/kg) and other critical metals such as Nb, Ta and Co. The main REE- and Th-hosts are allanite and titanite. The allanite unit cell parameters were calculated whereas its formula was found to be (REE_0.470Ca_1.499Th_0.031) (Ti_0.031Fe⁺³_1.089Al_1.880) (Si_2.906Al_0.094O₁₂) (OH). The μ-XANES spectra showed that LREE are present in trivalent oxidation state. Analyses of the non-magnetic sand fractions showed higher LREE (12,470 mg/kg) due to accumulation of allanite. The materials showed elevated radioactivity ranging from 885 ± 13 to 3467 ± 20 Bq/kg. The obtained results provide new insights on the provenance of the sands, the abundance of REE, Th, and other immobile elements, and offer new clues for potential exploration and exploitation.     

Geochemical features of the Matomb alluvial rutile from the Neoproterozoic Pan-African belt,Southern Cameroon

The Matomb region constitutes an important deposit of detrital rutile. The rutile grains are essentially coarse (> 3 mm), tabular and elongated, due to the short sorting of highly weathered detritus. This study reports the major, trace, and rare-earth element distribution in the bulk and rutile concentrated fractions. The bulk sediments contain minor TiO₂ concentrations (1–2 wt%), high SiO₂ contents (∼77–95 wt%) and variable contents in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, Zr, Y, Ba, Nb, Cr, V, and Zn. The total REE content is low to moderate (86–372 ppm) marked by high LREE-enrichment (LREE/HREE ∼5–25.72) and negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* ∼0.51–0.69). The chemical index of alteration (CIA) shows that the source rocks are highly weathered, characteristic of humid tropical zone with the development of ferrallitic soils. In the concentrated fractions, TiO₂ abundances exceed 94 wt%. Trace elements with high contents include V, Nb, Cr, Sn, and W. These data associated with several binary diagrams show that rutile is the main carrier of Ti, V, Nb, Cr, Sn, and W in the alluvia. The REE content is very low (1–9 ppm) in spite of the LREE-abundance (LREE/HREE ∼4–40). The rutile concentrated fractions exhibit anomalies in Ce (Ce/Ce^* ∼0.58 to 0.83; ∼1.41–2.50) and Eu (Eu/Eu^* ∼0.42; 1.20–1.64). The high (La/Sm)_N, (La/Yb)_N and (Gd/Yb)_N ratios indicate high REE fractionation.     

Mineralogy and geochemistry of sediments from Simbock Lake,Yaoundé area (southern Cameroon): provenance and environmental implications

Two cores of sediments, named NR and EB, were collected in the Simbock Lake (Mefou watershed, Yaoundé) to assess their provenance and the degree of heavy metal pollution based on mineralogical and geochemical data. The sediments are sandy, sand-clayey to clayey, and yellowish brown to greenish brown, and with high amounts of organic matter (average value of TOC is 1.95%). The sediments are mainly composed of quartz, kaolinite, accessory goethite, smectite, rutile, feldspars, illite, gibbsite, and interstratified illite-vermiculite. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy shows that kaolinite is less crystallized in the NR core than in the EB core. The Index of Compositional Variability (ICV), Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA), and the Rb/Sr and K₂O/Rb ratios indicate a high weathering intensity in the source area. These sediments have low contents in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O, MgO, and CaO as well as high values in SiO₂, P₂O₅, TiO₂, and MnO relative to the upper continental crust. The concentrations of Cr, V, Ba, and Zr are higher in the NR core than those in EB. The total rare earth element (REE) content varies between 78 and 405 ppm. The light REE are abundant (LREE/HREE ~?18–59; avg.?=?25.61). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns exhibit (i) negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu^* ~?0.38–0.62; avg.?=?0.5), (ii) slight positive Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce^* ~?1.11–1.34; avg.?=?1.11), and (iii) high REE fractionation ((La/Yb)_N ~?12.3–51.75; avg.?=?25.61). The enrichment factor (EF) shows that the Mefou watershed through the Simbock Lake sediments is slightly polluted by the agricultural and urban activities.     

REE concentrations of garnet and omphacite in eclogites from the Dabie Mountain, central China

Distributions of the rare-earth elements (REE) in omphacite and garnet and REE behaviors during metamorphic processes were discussed. The REE concentrations of garnet and omphacite in six eclogite samples from the Dabie Mountain, central China, were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The correlation of δEu ratios between garnet and omphacite indicated that chemical equilibrium of REE distribution between garnet and omphacite could be achieved during ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphism. Most of the partition coefficients (Kd=CiOmp/CiGrt) of light rare-earth elements (LREE) are higher than 1. However the partition coefficients of heavy rare-earth elements (HREE) are lower than 1. This indicated that the LREE inclined to occupy site M2 in omphacite, but the HREEs tended to occupy eightfold coordinated site in garnet during the eclogite formation. The REE geochemistry of the eclogites indicated that LREE could be partially lost during the prograde metamorphic process of protolith, but be introduced into the rocks during the symplectite formation. LREE are more active than HREE during the UHP metamorphism. The results are favorable to highlighting the REE behavior and evolution of UHP metamorphic rocks.