Environmental biogeochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in soil and soil-grown plants of the Hetai goldfield,Guangdong Province,China

Very few studies deal with the biogeochemical behaviors of rare earth elements (REEs) in goldfields. This paper presents the geochemical and biogeochemical characteristics of REEs within the soil–plant system in the Hetai goldfield, Guangdong, China. The samples from the goldfield region show anomalies in distribution patterns and behavioral characteristics of REES as compared with those from the background areas. The REEs in rocks, soils, and plants prove to be much higher than those in the surrounding regions. The distribution patterns of REEs are characterized by LREE-enrichment and HREE-depletion, with the REE concentrations in Layer A being the highest. Differentiations between LREEs and HREEs may lead to some extent of negative Eu anomaly in the soils. Research results demonstrate that the REEs in a soil profile can be transferred and accumulated during the mineral formation and supergenic geochemical processes, and the anomalies are obviously related to the geological settings for the REE-bearing ore-forming processes and to the geochemical characteristics of the habitats for the REE-bearing plants. For Dicranopteris dichotoma, the total amount of REEs in the tissues shows an order of leaf > root > stem, while for Pinus massoniana the order becomes root > leaf > stem. The distribution patterns of REEs in Pinus massoniana leaves are similar to those in soils where the plants grow up in the mineralization area. However, in the background areas the REE distribution patterns for Pinus massoniana stems are similar to those for soils where the plants grow up. Parameters such as biological absorption coefficients and biological transfer coefficients show the differences in REE absorption features among plants and indicate that REEs can be transferred among plant organs. The two coefficients can reveal the different survival mechanisms for the two plant species, which are subject to long-term REE-affected stress conditions in the gold mineralization zone.     

Mobility of rare earth elements in the system soils–plants–groundwaters: a case study of an arid area (Oman)

Groundwater samples from six wells and various species of plants from soils developed on ophiolites were collected from an arid area (AlKhod area, Oman) and analyzed for trace elements including rare earth elements (REEs). The distribution patterns of REEs in plants indicated an enrichment in middle REEs (MREEs?=?Sm to Dy) and heavy REEs (HREEs?=?Ho to Lu), when they are normalized to the REE composition of the Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), with a significant negative anomaly in Ce and a positive anomaly in Eu. Compared to Oman ophiolites, the REEs in different species of plants are depleted in Ce and enriched in MREEs and slightly enriched in light REE (LREE?=?from La to Nd). Relative to PAAS, the distribution of REEs in groundwaters revealed similar patterns to the REE distribution in plants. The distribution patterns of REEs in plants relative to those in waters are nearly flat. These patterns suggest that the transfer of REEs from soil solutions to the groundwaters in Oman occurs without any significant fractionation.     

Fractionation characteristics of rare earth elements (REEs) linked with secondary Fe,Mn, and Al minerals in soils

Soil secondary minerals are important scavengers of rare earth elements (REEs) in soils and thus affect geochemical behavior and occurrence of REEs. The fractionation of REEs is a common geochemical phenomenon in soils but has received little attention, especially fractionation induced by secondary minerals. In this study, REEs (La to Lu and Y) associated with soil-abundant secondary minerals Fe-, Al-, and Mn-oxides in 196 soil samples were investigated to explore the fractionation and anomalies of REEs related to the minerals. The results show right-inclined chondrite-normalized REE patterns for La–Lu in soils subjected to total soil digestion and partial soil extraction. Light REEs (LREEs) enrichment features were negatively correlated with a Eu anomaly and positively correlated with a Ce anomaly. The fractionation between LREEs and heavy REEs (HREEs) was attributed to the high adsorption affinity of LREEs to secondary minerals and the preferred activation/leaching of HREEs. The substantial fractions of REEs in soils extracted by oxalate and Dithionite-Citrate-Bicarbonate buffer solutions were labile (10 %–30 %), which were similar to the mass fraction of Fe (10 %–20 %). Furthermore, Eu was found to be more mobile than the other REEs in the soils, whereas Ce was less mobile. These results add to our understanding of the distribution and geochemical behavior of REEs in soils, and also help to deduce the conditions of soil formation from REE fractionation.     

Fractionation of rare-earth elements in plants during experimental growth in varied clay substrates

The distribution and content of rare-earth elements (REEs) were determined in two radish species, the cultivated Raphanus sativus and the wild Raphanus raphanistrum, that were grown under laboratory-controlled conditions, in three substrates consisting of illite for one and two smectite substrates for the others, with the two smectite substrates being characterised by different porosities. The plants were split into leaves and stems + roots for analysis. The results indicate that both species take up systematically higher amounts of REEs when grown in the illite substrate, even considering that the smectite equivalent contains about three times more REEs. The REE uptake is also more plant species than mineral composition dependent: R. raphanistrum takes up 3.5–6.7 times more REEs than R. sativus, depending on the substrate, its porosity and the considered plant segments. Increased substrate porosity favours the take up of the REEs, but no specific uptake is observed in leaves relative to that in the combined stems and roots. The transfer of the REEs from minerals to plant organs does not appear to induce systematically identical patterns: (1) in the case of R. sativus, a positive Eu anomaly is visible in all patterns from both segment groups grown in both substrates. When grown in illite, the heavy REEs are also enriched in the stems and roots, which has not been observed in any other organ or in the other substrate and (2) in the case of R. raphanistrum, a very significant positive Gd anomaly, which is not expected to fractionate relative to the other REEs as do Ce and Eu, is observed in all segments of the plants grown in both substrates. A slight negative Ce anomaly is also visible in some of the REE patterns, suggesting some changes in the oxidation–reduction conditions in the substrates near the roots during plant growth. The comparison of the REE patterns from leaves relative to those of the roots + stems shows that those of R. raphanistrum grown in illite provide a spectrum that is very specific with significant deficits in La, Ce, Gd, Tm, Yb and Lu in the leaves. In the other cases, the patterns do not outline significant differences except for R. sativus grown in illite, in which the leaves are enriched in light and medium REEs from La to Gd relative to the stems + roots.     

Chemical effect of pesticide application on soils: evidence from rare earth elements

The main objective of this study is to investigate the distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in Lolium perenne L. plant species which has been grown on vineyard soils treated with pesticide commonly used in the study area. These plants have been grown on two types of soils: (1) brown calcareous soils developed on loess and (2) brown to calcic brown soils developed on conglomerates. The significant correlation observed between the concentrations of phosphorus and the total amount of REEs, in addition to the enrichment in middle REEs (MREEs), suggests the complexation of REEs with phosphates and organic matter. The soils were enriched in REEs due to pesticide application but the plants were depleted. The ratio of REEs in plant over REEs in soil before application of pesticides is higher than that after application of pesticides. Application of pesticides to crops did not affect the fractionation of REEs neither in leaves nor in roots. No selectivity in uptake of REEs occurred because of pesticides except for Ce and Eu which show a negative anomaly relative to the other REEs.     

兴蒙-华北地球化学走廊带稀土元素含量与空间分布

为研究兴蒙造山带-华北克拉通地球化学走廊带区域地球化学组成及其横向空间变化,统计分析不同地理单元和五万图幅单元的REE含量并绘制其空间分布折线图.内蒙古半干旱草原土壤中稀土含量较低,与其草原沙土的粘土矿物较少有关;江苏北部冲积平原区的土壤中稀土含量较高,与降雨量存在良好空间对应关系.内蒙古红格尔到河北张家口,土壤与岩石∑REE的比值绝大多数小于1,REE发生贫化;山东章丘到江苏连云港,比值基本大于1,REE发生富集.华北克拉通内蒙地块土壤稀土特征与兴蒙造山带相似,可能受其草原沙土景观的影响.在不同构造单元之间,LREE与HREE亏损与富集的空间分布存在细微差异.结果表明:地理景观,特别是黏土矿物是影响土壤REE含量的重要因素,降雨量与REE存在良好空间对应关系,REE自身的地球化学性质的差异在土壤形成过程中对轻重稀土元素分异具有重要影响.      

Biogeochemical investigation in south eastern Andhra Pradesh: the distribution of rare earths, thorium and uranium in plants and soils

The concentration of rare earth elements (REE), thorium and uranium were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP−MS) in the plant species, Pterocarpus santalinus, P. marsupium and P. dalbergioides, and the soils on which they were growing. Higher concentrations of lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce) were observed in both plants and soils. Large amounts of thorium and uranium were found in the soil. In all tree species, the concentration of REEs were higher in the heartwood than the leaves. The heartwood of P. santalinus accumulated larger quantities of uranium (average concentration of 1.22 ppm) and thorium (mean value of 2.57 ppm) than the other two species. Received: 8 September 1999 · Accepted: 15 December 1999     

The rare earth element compositions of sediments from the loess tableland in the Liyang Plain,southern China: implications for provenance and weathering intensity

To identify the weathering intensity and to deduce the provenance of sediments (black-brown soil and loess) from the loess tableland in the Liyang Plain is of great importance for understanding the development and origin of civilization of this critical region in China. The geochemical results show similar REE distribution patterns among sediments sampled from the YC profile in the Liyang Plain, reticulated red soils from the Dongting lake area, Xiashu loess in Zhenjiang, and loess from the Loess Plateau in China. These similarities imply a single provenance, from dust storms. REEs, especially the LREE/HREE ratio and Eu anomaly, can trace weathering intensity. Higher LREE/HREE ratios, and remarkably Eu anomalies, are present in the top loess (L₀), Lower LREE/HREE ratios and insignificant Eu anomalies are present in black-brown soil (S₀*) from the Liyang Plain. These demonstrate that the black-brown soils have undergone a lower intensity of weathering than the loess of YC profile. Moreover, CIA values for sediments from the YC profile provide powerful evidence to support the above result. Comparisons of analyses of the REE contents of sediments from the YC profile, of reticulated red soils from the Dongting Lake area, Xiashu loess from the Yangtze River, and loess from the Loess Plateau, clearly show the weathering intensity decreases according to the following sequence: reticulated red soil from the Dongting Lake area > sediments of YC profile from the Liyang Plain, which formed from dust storms ≈ Xiashu loess from lower reach of the Yangtze River > loess from the Loess Plateau.     

岩石—土壤—铁芒萁系统中稀土元素的分布、迁移和累积

在赣南非稀土矿区和四处不同稀土矿区内取样,用ICP-MS法测定岩石-土壤-铁芒萁系统中15个稀土元素的含量,并对其分布、迁移、累积特征进行了研究。结果表明:稀土元素在岩石、土壤各层含量由高到低的顺序为C(心土层)>A(表土层)>B(底土层)>D(成土母岩);在铁芒萁植物体内的分布规律是:轻稀土元素含量为叶>根>茎>叶柄;重稀土元素含量为根>叶>茎>叶柄;稀土元素演化、迁移的难易是由稀土元素的重轻所决定的;岩-土-芒萁系统各环节间稀土元素的含量模式基本相似,表征元素在岩石→土壤→植物大系统中存在着向量(非均衡性)关系。     

Rare earth elements absorption patterns in grapevine “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.” cultivated in carbonate terrains (south-eastern Sicily,Italy)

Vitis vinifera L. vineyards grown on carbonate soil (Hyblean Plateau, SE Sicily) have been characterized in terms of rare earth elements (REEs) distribution. Results highlighted that the absorption of REEs by plants depends on the composition of the underlying soil, which in this case derives from limestone parent rock, allowing us to recognize the area of origin. Indeed, even slight differences in REEs content in soils may affect the absorption pattern of each grapevine cultivar. Importantly, the various parts of the plants showed differences in REEs absorption; such REEs fractionation is particularly evident in the leaf and juice samples. In general, the uptake and concentrations of REEs in plant tissues may be related to many factors such as geographical, climatic and lithological features. This is also pointed out by the statistical investigation, which took into account either the grapevine variety or each part of the plant. By taking into consideration both the grape variety and the type of soil, the present “multi-elemental” approach aims to provide a useful geochemical tool for assessing the geographical origin of the production area of wine.     

Geochemistry of rare earth elements in a marine influenced coal and its organic solvent extracts from the Antaibao mining district, Shanxi, China

Twenty-six samples including roof, bottom and coal plies of a marine influenced coal bed were collected from the Antaibao mining district, Shanxi, China. The rare earth elements (REEs) were determined in solids and organic solvent extracts. The distribution pattern showed three distinct patterns: shale-like, LREE-rich and HREE-rich. This is attributed to the variable microenvironment of peat-forming swamp, the degree of marine influences and different REE sources. REEs in the coal are mainly controlled by detrital minerals but also affected by seawater. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the organic solvent extracts are distinctly different from those of corresponding original coal samples, which show a negative Eu anomaly, a depletion of middle REEs and an enrichment of HREEs. The LREEs in coal extracts are likely adsorbed by hydrogen-containing functional groups, and HREEs are likely bonded to carbon atoms.     

中国东部大陆尺度地球化学走廊带碳酸盐岩稀土元素分布特征与影响因素

碳酸盐岩是地球表层岩石圈的重要组成部分,其化学组成可提供沉积环境与海洋水体演化等信息,然而,前人对碳酸盐岩中稀土等元素的分布与变化特征关注不足。本文选择穿越中国东部6个一级大地构造单元的3条地球化学走廊带,系统采集了582件碳酸盐岩地层样品,并准确分析了包括稀土元素(REE)在内的81项指标的含量。结果表明,中国东部地球化学走廊带碳酸盐岩稀土元素(REE＋Y)总量为(0.59～183)×10-6,均值为24.0×10-6,纯净碳酸盐岩(CMC含量≥99％)均值为4.80×10-6。PAAS标准化后其显示具有轻稀土相对于中稀土和重稀土略亏损、δEu轻微正异常、δCe中度负异常等特征。白云岩中稀土含量、LREE/HREE值一般低于石灰岩;砂泥质含量相近时,前中生代各时代碳酸盐岩稀土分布模式相差不大,各构造单元稀土分布特征基本相似;与其他时代相比,中生代及中新元古代碳酸盐岩具有相对较平坦的稀土分布模式。研究表明,碳酸盐岩中稀土分布受碎屑物质影响明显,表现为稀土元素含量与碳酸根负相关,与碎屑物质相关元素(Si、Ti、Rb、Cs、Th、Zr等)、黏土相关元素(Al、Fe、K等)等正相关。成岩过程及白云化过程对较纯净碳酸盐岩中稀土分布特征影响不明显。我国古生代纯净碳酸盐岩分布模式受控于海相环境,其分布模式与现今海水相近;中生代纯净石灰岩受到陆相或海陆交互相的影响,具有较平坦的稀土分布模式。氧化还原条件对δCe的影响较δEu更为明显,δCe值受海相环境控制,极端正异常值(δCe＞1.3)受到还原环境或/和热液影响。若假定海水中REE自中元古代至今无太大变化,各时代稀土元素分配系数均值介于103.55～102.39,分配系数差异是造成碳酸盐岩中轻稀土亏损、Ce负异常及Y正异常的主要原因。微生物(席)可富集稀土等金属元素并改变沉积环境,这可能是造成中新元古界碳酸盐岩较平坦的稀土分布模式的主要原因。     

Rare Earth Elements as an Indicator to Origins of Skarn Deposits: Examples of the Kamioka Zn-Pb and Yoshiwara-Sannotake Cu(–Fe) Deposits in Japan

Abstract: Systematic data of rare earth elements (REEs) are presented in order to put some constraints on the origin of hydrothermal fluids responsible for two contrastive skarn deposits in Japan; the Kamioka Zn-Pb and Yoshiwara-Sannotake Cu(-Fe) deposits. Carbon and oxygen isotopic studies have demonstrated that the hydrothermal fluids responsible for the Kamioka Zn-Pb deposits are of meteoric water origin whereas those for the Yoshiwara-Sannotake Cu(-Fe) deposits are of magmatic water origin. The REE abundances of epidote skarn derived from aluminous rocks, garnet and clinopyroxene in calcic exoskarn derived from limestone, and interstitial calcite associated with sulfide minerals were determined for these contrastive skarn deposits by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A significant difference in the REE concentrations is not found between epidote skarn and aluminous original rock (plagioclase-clinopyroxene rock, called Inishi rock) from the Kamioka Zn-Pb deposits, indicating that the REEs are generally immobile during the formation of epidote skarn, and that the REE concentrations of the hydrothermal fluid are considerably low relative to the aluminous original rock. In contrast, the epidote skarn exhibits enrichment of Eu with increasing total REE concentrations relative to the aluminous original rock (quartz diorite) in the Yoshiwara-Sannotake Cu(-Fe) deposits, implying a contribution of magmatic fluid derived from granitoids during the skarn formation. Limestone generally has much lower REE concentrations related to surrounding aluminous rocks, and thus the REE concentrations of garnet and clinopyroxene in calcic exoskarn, originated from limestone, are variable due to the interaction with the hydrothermal fluids. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of garnet, clinopyroxene, and interstitial calcite exactly provide useful information on origins of hydrothermal fluids. The REE patterns of these minerals from the Kamioka Zn-Pb deposits show lower (Pr/Yb)cn ratios, and negative Ce and Eu anomalies inherited from limestone with the decrease of This suggests that the hydrothermal fluids responsible for the Kamioka Zn-Pb deposits were depleted in REEs, and were not magmatic water in origin, but presumably meteoric one. In striking contrast, the REE patterns of exoskarn minerals and calcite from the Yoshiwara-Sannotake Cu(-Fe) deposits exhibit a positive Eu anomaly, and high (Pr/Yb)cn ratios with the considerable increase of σREE and the disappearance of negative Ce anomaly, implying that the fluids were dominantly of magmatic origin. The REE indices are very likely to be an excellent indicator to origins of the skarn deposits.     

黔中小流域水体悬浮物与沉积物微量元素地球化学特征及物源指示

系统探讨了黔中小流域水体悬浮物和沉积物中微量及稀土元素地球化学特征。结果表明,元素含量在河流与湖泊、悬浮物与沉积物之间均存在明显差异。稀土元素北美页岩标准化分布模式大致为轻稀土相对富集的平坦模式,δEu为0.82～1.25,δCe为0.79～1.25,整体变化不大,均表现为弱异常。麦翁河稀土总量与分布模式均发生异常,主要受上游盘龙煤矿影响。悬浮物的∑REE与pH呈反相关关系,而沉积物的∑REE却与pH表现出正相关关系,表明悬浮物与沉积物中稀土元素行为的控制因素不同。元素相关分析、因子分析及微量元素图解均表明悬浮物与沉积物中的元素具有同源性,主要来源于流域岩石化学风化和土壤物理侵蚀的产物,而某些金属元素Zn、Co、Cu、Cr、Ni则来源于周边工矿企业、农业生产等人为排放。本研究丰富和发展了喀斯特地区水体元素地球化学,揭示了小流域化学风化与物理侵蚀过程中的元素特征和物质输送状况,并为该流域的生态环境现状、治理及管理提供了科学依据和基础资料。     

内蒙白云鄂博稀土矿土壤-植物稀土元素及重金属分布特征

白云鄂博是世界最大的稀土矿山,研究白云鄂博矿区土壤及植物等环境介质中的稀土元素和重金属元素的分布特征,可以为调查矿区环境现状提供基础数据,同时为矿山环境修复提供参考依据。本文采集了白云鄂博稀土矿区的土壤、植物,以及背景区本巴台地区的岩石、土壤、牛粪五类样品,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定了样品中15种稀土元素（La、Ce、Pr、Nd、Sm、Eu、Gd、Tb、Dy、Ho、Er、Tm、Yb、Lu、Y）及8种重金属元素（Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb、As）的含量,研究这些元素地球化学行为及其在空间上的变化规律。结果表明：①矿区土壤和植物样品均显示出明显的轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损的特征。土壤和植物中含量最高的稀土元素均为Ce,分别达到49.95%及48.55%,与白云鄂博稀土矿富Ce的特征高度一致。②铁花植物的稀土元素总量在空间上呈现出主矿>东矿>东介勒格勒矿段的趋势,与三处矿体本身含矿性变化一致,说明该种植物稀土含量基本受矿体含矿性控制,对生长环境中稀土富集程度指示较准确。③矿区土壤中存在一定程度的Zn （465~778mg/kg）、Cd （1.35~2.23mg/kg）、Pb （181~431mg/kg）累积,其中部分点位Cd、Pb存在超出风险管制值的现象。综上,白云鄂博的矿石、土壤、植物样品均表现出富Ce的特征,且植物稀土含量与其所生长处的矿体含矿性强弱高度相关,三者之间稀土含量特征表现出明显继承性。此外,矿区局部点位土壤存在的Zn、Cd、Pb累积需要引起适当关注。     

Rare earth element geochemistry and petrogenesis of miles (IIE) silicate inclusions

An ion probe study of rare earth element (REE) geochemistry of silicate inclusions in the Miles IIE iron meteorite was carried out. Individual mineral phases among inclusions have distinct REE patterns and abundances. Most silicate grains have homogeneous REE abundances but show considerable intergrain variations between inclusions. A few pyroxene grains display normal igneous REE zoning. Phosphates (whitlockite and apatite) are highly enriched in REEs (50 to 2000 × CI) with a relatively light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched REE pattern. They usually occurred near the interfaces between inclusions and Fe host. In Miles, albitic glasses exhibit two distinctive REE patterns: a highly fractionated LREE-enriched (CI normalized La/Sm ∼15) pattern with a large positive Eu anomaly and a relatively heavy rare earth element (HREE)-enriched pattern (CI-normalized Lu/Gd ∼4) with a positive Eu anomaly and a negative Yb anomaly. The glass is generally depleted in REEs relative to CI chondrites.The bulk REE abundances for each inclusion, calculated from modal abundances, vary widely, from relatively depleted in REEs (0.1 to 3 × CI) with a fractionated HREE-enriched pattern to highly enriched in REEs (10 to 100 × CI) with a relatively LREE-enriched pattern. The estimated whole rock REE abundances for Miles are at ∼ 10 × CI with a relatively LREE-enriched pattern. This implies that Miles silicates could represent the product of a low degree (∼10%) partial melting of a chondritic source. Phenocrysts of pyroxene in pyroxene-glassy inclusions were not in equilibrium with coexisting albitic glass and they could have crystallized from a parental melt with REEs of ∼ 10 × CI. Albitic glass appears to have formed by remelting of preexisting feldspar + pyroxene + tridymite assemblage. Yb anomaly played an important role in differentiation processes of Miles silicate inclusions; however, its origin remains unsolved.The REE data from this study suggest that Miles, like Colomera and Weekeroo Station, formed when a molten Fe ball collided on a differentiated silicate regolith near the surface of an asteroid. Silicate fragments were mixed with molten Fe by the impact. Heat from molten Fe caused localized melting of feldspar + pyroxene + tridymite assemblage. The inclusions remained isolated from one another during subsequent rapid cooling.     

Geochemical characteristics and provenance implication of rare earth elements in surface sediments from bays along Guangdong Coast, Southeast China

A systematic study of the granulometric properties and the occurrence and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) within surface sediments from ten bays situated along the coast of Southeast China has facilitated a more rigorous understanding of constraints on sediment provenance in the area. The results show that REE concentrations are similar within a single bay, but vary considerably (133.58–251.77 mg/kg) among the bays. The chondrite-normalized distribution patterns show the typical enrichment of light REEs (LREEs: La–Eu) relative to heavy REEs (HREEs: Gd–Lu), and an apparent depletion of Eu, which is diagnostic of a terrigenous sediment source. Obvious enrichments of the middle REEs (MREEs: Sm–Ho) in the PAAS-normalized (Post-Archean Australian Shale) distribution patterns of these bay sediments are similar to results reported from large rivers in China. Comparing the REE composition of the bay sediments with those of adjoining fluvial sediments and with the bedrock of the surrounding drainage basins, the latter are indicated as the dominant sediment source. The uniform REE distribution patterns, and MREE enrichments, prove that the sediments are derived from the material transported by the streams and rivers that discharge into the bays.     

明长陵土壤地球化学特征

对明长陵陵墓和外围土壤特征开展地球化学研究,发现长陵陵墓土壤Cl、S、P、N、C、Hg、Au和有机质含量在表层显著富集,陵墓内土壤各元素含量高于外围土壤。陵墓内五供两侧土壤Hg和Au元素含量出现异常,影响皇陵外东南向土壤Hg,以及南向和西南向土壤Au含量。陵墓土壤稀土总含量略有差异,但土壤稀土元素分布模式相似,表明陵墓内土壤为同源物质。     

REE concentrations in agricultural soil in Sweden and Italy: Comparison of weak MMI® extraction with near total extraction data

Rare Earth Element (REE) concentrations in agricultural soil obtained from the Mobile Metal Ion (MMI^®) weak extraction technique are compared with soil total concentrations (sodium peroxide fusion followed by acid dissolution) for 118 and 174 agricultural soil samples from Italy and Sweden, respectively. Spatial distribution maps and statistics for both analytical techniques are compared between the two national datasets. In spite of similarity of REE concentration in two countries, the median values of REE is higher than Italy but extreme concentration of REE in Italy is due to young volcanic activities. Extractability of REEs is significantly higher in Swedish soils than in Italian soils. Heavy Rare Earth Element (HREE) in Sweden show higher concentrations compared to Italy in MMI^® extraction data where correlate with REE mineralisation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to elucidate correlations and anomalies in the REE distribution. Results show that there is a clear correlation between REE anomalies and natural factors such as lithology of the underlying bedrock, the presence of mineralisations, pH of soils, climate and precipitation. According to the PCA results, anomalous behaviour of Eu, Ce, Tb and Gd can be explained by the dominant mineralogy of the parent material and the variable affinity of REEs to bind to clay minerals and clay-size particles.     

Assimilation and partial melting of continental crust: evidence from the mineralogy and geochemistry of autoliths and xenoliths

This paper presents a model for the partial melting of quartz diorite and greywacke in the upper crust based on the mineralogy and geochemistry of enclaves within the Loch Doon granitic intrusion of southern Scotland. The melting of quartz diorite was modelled using autoliths, which represent fragments of cogenetic igneous rocks that became incorporated in the fractionating magma. Compared to their quartz diorite parents, the autoliths are enriched to varying degrees in some elements (notably Rb, Nb, Ta, Sm, Y, Yb) and depleted in others (Sr, and Ba); Eu and P are also depleted in the more assimitated autoliths. The compositions of melts that could be derived from assimilation of the autoliths have also been calculated: their REE patterns reveal a light REE enrichment, low concentrations of heavy REEs (1–3 x chondrite) and a positive Eu anomaly. The calculated degrees of melting vary from 35% in the least assimilated to 84% in the most assimilated autolith (assuming a bulk distribution coefficient of 10 for the most compatible element). Results from modelling of xenolith compositions (derived from metasediments) are also reported, but because of uncertainties in the composition of the parental sediment, these data are subject to larger errors. They do, however, indicate that resultant partial melts are distinctly different from those derived by partial melting of autoliths. In particular, the REE pattern of a greywacke-derived melt shows a slight enrichment in light REEs, greater concentrations of heavy REEs (10 x chondrite) and a small negative Eu anomaly. The calculated degrees of melting of the xenoliths fall in the range of 66–88% (assuming a bulk distribution coefficient of 10 for the most compatible element). The results have direct implications for assimilation and melting of the upper crust. By taking into account how the nature of residual phases is likely to change with depth, it can be demonstrated that some Archaean tonalite gneisses could represent liquids derived by partial melting of igneous material.