碳酸岩研究进展

碳酸岩(carbonatite)一词自首次被提出至今已有一百多年的历史,它是一种神秘而颇具争议的岩石类型。碳酸岩富含碳酸盐矿物,通常与基性、超基性或碱性硅酸盐岩伴生形成碳酸岩-硅酸盐岩杂岩体,具有独特的化学成分和矿物学特征并具有承载重要经济矿床的能力。在过去的几十年里,碳酸岩的研究在岩石成因及岩浆起源、地球化学与地质年代学、高温高压实验、与碳酸岩相关的经济矿产、碳酸岩型稀土矿床中稀土元素的富集分异及成矿机理等领域取得了巨大进步。本文从碳酸岩的定义与分类、成岩背景与时空分布、岩石学特征及矿物组成、岩浆起源及演化过程以及与碳酸岩相关的矿产资源等方面对碳酸岩的研究进展进行了综述与评论,提出从成因角度探索碳酸岩分类方案的必要性,总结和梳理了我国目前发现的碳酸岩的产地和分布特征,并认为碳酸岩岩浆与硅酸盐岩浆演化具有差异性,应重视对碳酸岩岩浆演化过程中熔体-流体过渡阶段的研究。最后从文献计量学角度利用大数据和可视化手段对来自Scopus数据库的近十年以“carbonatite”为检索词的近千篇文献进行了可视化分析,总结归纳了碳酸岩现阶段的研究热点,并对未来碳酸岩的研究趋势进行了展望。     

白云鄂博矿区“白云岩”成因的初步研究

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

陕西小秦岭地区碳酸岩时空分布、地球化学特征及其与铀稀土成矿作用的关系

碳酸岩作为一种岩浆成因的岩石类型,是铀、稀土等矿产的重要含矿母岩。陕西小秦岭地区广泛分布着碳酸岩,呈大脉状、群脉状、网脉状沿断裂构造侵入太古代变质基底、长城系熊耳群火山沉积岩及蓟县系高山河群碎屑岩中。基于野外穿插关系,结合碳酸岩主要矿物组合特征,将小秦岭碳酸岩划分为5个阶段,由老到新分别为：霓辉石正长岩阶段、霓辉石碳酸岩阶段、钾长石碳酸岩阶段、石英碳酸岩阶段和含沸石碳酸岩阶段,碳酸岩由早期铁碳酸岩向晚期钙碳酸岩演化。在空间上碳酸岩大致以近东西向小河断裂为界,南北部碳酸岩脉的主要类型存在明显的差异;在时间上碳酸岩总体形成于晚三叠世,但不同地段不同类型碳酸岩存在较为明显的时间差异性。碳酸岩地球化学特征显示高硅、富碱、低镁、高钡锶-稀土元素的特征,以及异常高的钾钠比值;CaO含量、TiO₂含量、Al₂O₃含量、铁镁质含量、全碱含量、稀土元素总量及分馏程度均有自早期碳酸岩到晚期碳酸岩逐渐降低的趋势;MnO含量与重稀土元素含量变化相反,且两者呈线性相关特征;与国内其他地区碳酸岩地球化学特征具有明显的差异性。不同类型碳酸岩具有显著的...     

富氟钡型碳酸岩岩浆的演化机制及其成矿效应

碳酸岩可分为原始地幔原生碳酸岩和广义“碳酸岩”——富氟钡型碳酸岩。相对于原生碳酸岩,富氟钡型碳酸岩含有大量挥发分和碱土元素,产出了众多稀土矿床,具有较高的成矿潜力。理论和实验研究表明,在碳酸岩岩浆演化过程中,挥发分和碱土元素是岩浆发生不混溶作用的关键因素,而且不混溶作用相对结晶分异作用更利于成矿元素的富集。因此,可以推断挥发分和碱土元素是富氟钡型碳酸岩的成矿的关键因素,不混溶模式是富氟钡型碳酸岩岩浆演化和成矿的主要机制。但是,这仅为理论推断的结果,而且许多实验的研究对象是未发生稀土矿化的碳酸岩,数据的说服力较弱。在我国富氟钡型碳酸岩矿床中,山东微山稀土矿床具有成矿元素高度富集,代表了富氟钡型碳酸岩成矿强度大的特点;而白云鄂博铁—稀土矿床则代表了富氟钡型碳酸岩成矿规模大的特点,二者相辅相成,是研究富氟钡型碳酸岩成矿效应的理想对象。     

碳酸岩分布特征及成矿意义

将全球不同时代的碳酸岩体经过Arcgis软件进行坐标投点,得到了世界主要的碳酸岩体和碳酸岩有关矿产的分布特征图,结合全球主要构造,本文探讨了不同时代碳酸岩的产出和分布与深大断裂的关系。碳酸岩的空间分布主要与板块内部环境和造山带伸展环境中的拉张岩石圈构造背景有关,这种背景下的深大断裂容易切割到地球深处,为碳酸岩岩浆上涌提供通道,从而控制着碳酸岩的形成和分布。碳酸岩从太古代至新生代均有分布,年代越新出现的频率越高。碳酸岩的岩石学特征标志是其岩浆通过的上部地壳围岩中发生霓长岩化作用,形成一套含有霓石、钠(铁)闪石、钠长石、金云母、钾长石等为特征的霓长岩。碳酸岩体在平面和剖面上的分布,与其共生的碱性岩和超基性岩分布亦具有一定的规律性。碳酸岩的主量元素主要包括CO_2、CaO、MgO、FeO、Fe_2O_3、MnO以及SiO_2等,根据碳酸岩中的CaO、MgO和(FeO+Fe_2O_3+MnO)以及碱质之间的重量百分比可将碳酸岩划分为钙质碳酸岩、镁质碳酸岩和铁质碳酸岩以及碱质碳酸岩四大类。碳酸岩的微量元素主要是F、P、Nb-Ta、REE(LREE)、Zr(Hf)、碱金属(K、Na、Rb、Cs、Li)、碱土金属(Sr、Ba)以及衍生的Fe等强不相容的大离子亲石元素(LIPLE),通常是张性深大断裂导致的深部地幔低度部分熔融的产物,易在碳酸岩中富集成矿,形成一系列具有重要价值的金属和非金属矿床。碳酸岩中同位素及包裹体的研究,均不同程度反映了碳酸岩浆的深部来源及其演化特征。因此,碳酸岩特殊的产出背景、特有的矿物共生组合、围岩蚀变、岩石学特征以及地球化学特征等研究资料,还可以为人们了解深成岩浆的演化和探索地球深部信息提供证据。最近十几年的研究中,人们发现可能存在一种新的壳源成因的碳酸岩。     

稀土、铌在碳酸岩-碱性岩体系中的地球化学行为

稀土、铌是对战略性新兴产业至关重要的关键金属。碳酸岩-碱性岩型是极为重要的稀土、铌成矿类型,其成矿机制一直存在争议,主要在于碳酸岩-碱性岩体系中REE、Nb元素的地球化学性质和行为尚不清楚。本文系统综述了全球碳酸岩-碱性岩型稀土、铌资源的基本情况和分布格局、碳酸岩-碱性岩的成因与成矿机制、REE和Nb元素在碳酸岩-碱性岩体系中的地球化学行为等研究进展,并对碳酸岩-碱性岩成因不明、REE和Nb元素富集沉淀机制不清、元素分配行为不明确、络合物结构和稳定性缺乏实验研究等目前存在的问题进行了梳理。本文旨在通过系统总结碳酸岩-碱性岩体系REE、Nb的超常富集机制和碳酸岩-碱性岩体系稀土、铌成矿理论,为强化我国稀土资源优势,缓解铌资源被“卡脖子”困局提供理论支撑。     

四川攀枝花铁矿碳酸岩的发现和确认——地质特征、斜锆石U-Pb年龄、C—O同位素组成证据

碳酸岩是一类稀少但具有重要地质意义的一种岩石类型,且碳酸岩也往往构成大火成岩省岩石序列中的重要组成部分。我国西南地区晚二叠世峨眉山大火成岩省举世闻名,但此前尚未有同期的火成碳酸岩报道。本项目组在四川攀枝花地区开展的地质填图过程中,识别出大规模的碳酸岩,其沿北东—南西向延伸约20千米,可能是我国最大的岩浆型碳酸岩。大量的暗色纯橄榄岩、二辉橄榄岩及煌斑岩地幔捕虏体是认定岩浆型碳酸岩最直接、最重要的野外证据。碳酸岩主体为侵入岩,其次为少量的喷出岩、火山角砾岩及潜火山岩,空间上与侵入碳酸岩紧邻。碳酸岩侵入岩主要由方解石、白云石、橄榄石、斜方辉石及其蚀变而成的蛇纹石组成,并可根据矿物粒度、含量、结构、构造及颜色,划分出不同的碳酸岩类型。碳酸岩喷出岩由方解石、白云石、暗色矿物及气孔构成; 潜火山岩由火山角砾、火山岩玻璃及方解石胶结物构成,方解石胶结物的形成可能与岩浆晚期的少量气液活动有关。拉纳箐矿区粗粒白云石碳酸岩中斜锆石以及与碳酸岩共生的石英二长岩中锆石的加权平均年龄分别为263. 5±3. 2 Ma (MSWD=0. 41, n=20)和260. 2±1. 7 Ma (WSWD=0. 30,n=20)。大规模碳酸岩的识别完善了峨眉山大火成岩省岩浆岩序列。碳酸岩的δ13CPDB(-9. 6‰~+1. 3‰)及δ18OSMOW (+12. 9‰~+21. 3‰)值与其它典型碳酸岩的同位素值接近。攀枝花铁矿区碳酸岩与冕宁—德昌新生代稀土矿化碳酸岩的岩性组合、矿物组合及蚀变类型差异显著,反映了二者具有不同的成因。前者与喜马拉雅造山运动有关,后者形成于与峨眉地幔柱有关陆内裂谷环境,可能为深部地幔低部分熔融的产物,是真正意义上“干的”岩浆成因的碳酸岩。     

燕山震旦系碳酸岩分类

碳酸岩占沉积岩体积的五分之一。全世界将近一半的石油、天然气产于其中。许多沉积矿床和热液交代矿床,如铁、锰、磷、镁、铜、铅、锌、汞以及放射性元素等矿床多产于碳酸岩中。碳酸岩本身也是建筑、化工、纺织等工业部门的重要原料,因而碳酸岩的研究愈来愈被重视。碳酸岩的合理分类是研究碳酸岩的必要途径。     

碳酸岩岩浆演化过程中REE富集与分异的研究进展及碳酸岩中的矿物学分带

稀土元素(REE)作为"三稀资源"之一,是中国重要的战略性矿产资源,碳酸岩型稀土矿床是世界稀土的主要来源.成矿碳酸岩的岩浆演化以及稀土元素的富集和分异机理一直是碳酸岩型稀土矿床研究的热点和难点,国内外学者对碳酸岩的岩浆起源、岩浆演化过程中稀土元素富集与分异的机理进行了大量的研究与探讨,但仍存在较多的争议,限制了碳酸岩型稀土元素成矿理论的发展及国内外碳酸岩型稀土矿床的找矿勘查工作.文章重点对稀土成矿碳酸岩的起源、岩浆演化过程及在此过程中REE的富集与分异行为进行了详细的文献调研和评述,同时,基于笔者在冕宁牦牛坪稀土矿床前期的研究工作和最新发现,认为碳酸岩中普遍存在矿物学分带,它是岩浆演化过程的最佳记录,是不同成分矿物结晶分异作用的体现.对牦牛坪稀土矿床碳酸岩的矿物学分带特征及其中的熔体、熔流体和流体包裹体进行了初步描述与探讨,以期为研究碳酸岩的岩浆演化、岩浆-流体转化过程及稀土元素的富集与分异机理提供新的思路,促使对稀土碳酸岩矿物学分带及其对REE富集与分异的研究引起更多的关注和重视.     

肯尼亚Buru区碳酸岩成因及稀土找矿意义研究

位于东非大裂谷的维多利亚湖周边(含肯尼亚Buru区)发现多处碳酸岩,富集稀土元素和其他微量元素,研究其成因及与稀土元素和其他微量元素关系具重要意义。Buru区碳酸岩原始地幔标准化分布曲线与幔源碳酸岩浆相似,显示本区碳酸岩是幔源成因。其杂岩体的性状和典型模式相似,但又有较大的不同,其侵入顺序为超基性岩(变玄武岩)→碱性岩(响岩)→碳酸岩。碳酸岩是在低温低压条件下形成的,为次火山岩相-浅成相。Buru区位于东非大裂谷东支与西支之间,拉张应力环境为幔源碳酸岩上侵创造了条件。碳酸岩是在岩浆晚期分异后形成的,经交代作用后稀土元素和其他微量元素进一步富集。稀土元素和其他微量元素易富集在火成方解石碳酸岩、白云岩等碳酸岩中,为稀土元素和其他微量元素矿床的寻找指明了方向。维多利亚湖周边碳酸岩具良好的找矿前景。     

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。     

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

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

Geochemical features and petrogenesis of Miaoya carbonatites,Hubei Province

The lens-shaped Miaoya carbonatite complex, located west of the Wudang massif, Hubei Province, consists of several types of carbonatites associated with syenites. According to their composition, the carbonatites can be classified into four types, i. e., sovite, alvikite, carbon-bearing alvikite and ankeritic carbonatite. Their average composition is in agreement with the abundance values for carbonatites compiled by Gold (1966). There are three stages recognizable: the earliest sovite and alvikite followed by carbon-bearing alvikite, with ankeritic carbonatite being the latest. Some rules dominating the distribution of major and rare elements are observed with respect to the evolution of these carbonatites, for example, Nb is essentially enriched in sovite. Except for niobite and ilmenorutile, there are also pyrochlore, nioboeschynite and fersmite. RE are concentrated mainly in ankeritic carbonatite, within which bastnasite, parisite and monazite are found. In general, Ca, Nb, and Sr decrease, while Fe, Mg, Mn, and RE increase from earlier to later stages. It is suggested that the carbonatites are genetically connected with syenitic magma.     

New data on carbonatites of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky alkaline complex,the southern Urals,Russia

Carbonatites that are hosted in metamorphosed ultramafic massifs in the roof of miaskite intrusions of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky alkaline complex are considered. Carbonatites have been revealed in the Buldym, Khaldikha, Spirikha, and Kagan massifs. The geological setting, structure of carbonatite bodies, distribution of accessory rare-metal mineralization, typomorphism of rock-forming minerals, geochemistry, and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions are discussed. Dolomite-calcite carbonatites hosted in ultramafic rocks contain tetraferriphlogopite, richterite, accessory zircon, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and pyrochlore. According to geothermometric data and the composition of rock-forming minerals, the dolomite-calcite carbonatites were formed under K-feldspar-calcite, albite-calcite, and amphibole-dolomite-calcite facies conditions at 575–300°C. The Buldym pyrochlore deposit is related to carbonatites of these facies. In addition, dolomite carbonatites with accessory Nb and REE mineralization (monazite, aeschynite, allanite, REE-pyrochlore, and columbite) are hosted in ultramafic massifs. The dolomite carbonatites were formed under chlorite-sericite-ankerite facies conditions at 300–200°C. The Spirikha REE deposit is related to dolomite carbonatite and alkaline metasomatic rocks. It has been established that carbonatites hosted in ultramafic rocks are characterized by high Sr, Ba, and LREE contents and variable Nb, Zr, Ti, V, and Th contents similar to the geochemical attributes of calcio-and magnesiocarbonatites. The low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7044?0.7045 and εNd ranging from 0.65 to ?3.3 testify to their derivation from a deep mantle source of EM₁ type.     

Origin and evolution of the Ilmeny–Vishnevogorsky carbonatites (Urals, Russia): insights from trace-element compositions, and Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, U-Pb, Lu-Hf isotope data

The carbonatites of the Ilmeny-Vishnevogorsky Alkaline Complex (IVAC) are specific in geological and geochemical aspects and differ by some characteristics from classic carbonatites of the zoned alkaline-ultramafic complexes. Geological, geochemical and isotopic data and comparison with relevant experimental systems show that the IVAC carbonatites are genetically related to miaskites, and seem to be formed as a result of separation of carbonatite liquid from a miaskitic magma. Appreciable role of a carbonate fluid is established at the later stages of carbonatite formation. The trace element contents in the IVAC carbonatites are similar to carbonatites of the ultramafic-alkaline complexes. The characteristic signatures of the IVAC carbonatites are a high Sr content, a slight depletion in Ba, Nb, Та, Ti, Zr, and Hf, and enrichment in HREE in comparison with carbonatites of ultramafic-alkaline complexes. This testifies a specific nature of the IVAC carbonatites related to the fractionation of a miaskitic magma and to further Late Paleozoic metamorphism. Isotope data suggest a mantle source for IVAC carbonatites and indicate that moderately depleted mantle and enriched EMI-type components participated in magma generation. The lower crust could have been involved in the generation of the IVAC magma.     

白云鄂博铌、稀土铁矿的成矿地质条件及矿床成因

白云鄂博矿区的铁矿和铌、稀土矿分属两个成矿期和两种不同的成因。铁矿是中元古界蓟县系哈拉霍疙特组内的层控受变质铁矿，赋存在宽沟南侧的层状白云岩中，该白云岩及铁矿层是在两条同生断裂所控槽状泻湖中沉积的。除白云岩外，宽沟南北两侧地层均可对比，同属白云鄂博群。铁矿层的原生矿物为以菱铁矿为主的FeCO3－MgCO3系列矿物，受后期侵入岩的热变质作用转变为磁铁矿及赤铁矿。铌、稀土成矿作用与脉状、瘤状碳酸岩有关。矿区已发现该类脉岩40余条，可分为白云石质及方解石质两类，以前者为主。两类碳酸岩的稀土元素特征均为轻稀土高度富集型，铕弱亏损到富集，其来源较深碳酸岩体沿断裂侵入造成强烈而广阔的碱交代蚀变带，以霓长石化为主，其强度与稀土矿化强度呈正相关关系。推测矿区在不大的深度内赋存有较大的隐伏碳酸岩侵入体。     

Pb/Pb age determinations on the Newania and Sevattur carbonatites of India: evidence for multi-stage histories

The ages of Indian carbonatites are still controversial. Most of the earlier datings were done by K/Ar methods. We therefore analysed Pb/Pb ratios in carbonatites from carbonatite-alkalic complexes of Newania (NW India, Rajasthan State) and Sevattur (SW India, Tamil Nadu State) to constrain the age and geological history of these rocks. Newania carbonatites are intrusive into Precambrian Untala granite-gneiss and mainly dolomitic in composition (rauhaugite) followed by a later phase of ankerite carbonatite, while thin calcite carbonatite (sövite) dykelets are the youngest in the sequence. The analysed whole-rock samples are characterised by ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios between 60 and 176 and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios between 22 and 40, which are extremely high in comparison to common igneous rocks and even for carbonatite compositions. One sample, New 37, shows the extreme ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 574 and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 73. This requires a μ-value of about 2000 for the last 1550 Ma. If the samples are classified according to their petrographic/geochemical characteristics this results in an isochron age of 1551 ± 46 Ma for the ankerite carbonatites (six samples). The dolomites (6 samples) yield an isochron age of 2.27 Ga. Although these results fit quite well into the geological evolution scheme of the area, the extreme long age hiatus between dolomite carbonatite and ferrocarbonatite formation events raises severe problems for their petrologic interpretation.

The Proterozoic Sevattur carbonatite complex (SCC, Tamil Nadu) was emplaced contemporaneously with a large number of carbonatite complexes within the Precambrian gneissic terrane of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt. The main mass is composed of dolomite carbonatite (rauhaugite) with a few dikes of calcite carbonatite (sövite) and ankerite carbonatite within it. All eight samples together yield an isochron of 805 ± 10 Ma. This isochron is mainly determined on ankerite carbonatites with μ-values up to 1900 for the last 800 Ma. Taking only ankerite carbonatites into account, the resulting age is 801 ± 11 Ma. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of these samples are similar to the main group of Newania and far beyond the isotopic composition of common igneous rocks.

Our investigations show that in carbonatitic rock systems extremely high lead isotopic ratios can be established due to the crystallization of uranium-rich mineral phases. In both cases the observed high to extremely high initial Pb isotope ratios require the residence of the lead in intermediate high-μ reservoirs either within the upper mantle or the crust prior to the carbonatite formation. A high-temperature event, which completely reset the Rb/Sr and K/Ar isotopic systems of Nevania carbonatites, seems to have no influence on the lead isotopic systematics.     

Unusual rocks and mineralisation in a new carbonatite complex at Kandaguba, Kola Peninsula, Russia

The paper presents the results from a reconnaissance investigation of carbonatites in a newly discovered alkaline complex in the Kola peninsula, Russia. The Kandaguba complex differs from other carbonatite plutons of the Kola alkaline province by (a) the absence of ultrabasic rocks, (b) widespread occurrence of nepheline-, cancrinite- and nepheline–cancrinite syenites and carbonatites and (c) presence of apatite–calcite ijolites and feldspar ijolites as separate intrusive phase. The Kandaguba carbonatites are notable for the predominance of late ferromagnesian varieties together with quartz and numerous accessory mineral species. The association of phosphates (monazite, gorseixite, goyazite, apatite), sulphides and tellurides (pyrite, sphalerite, galena, hessite), ilmenorutile, barite with quartz and ankerite is a remarkable feature of these carbonatites. The Kandaguba carbonatites are inferred to have been generated as the products of liquid immiscibility followed by differentiation of the carbonatite melt.     

Petrology and composition of rare-metal alkaline rocks in the South Gobi Desert,Mongolia

Earlier, a belt of alkali-granite plutons and a carbonatite province were discovered in the South Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The Lugingol pluton of pseudoleucitic syenites with carbonatites was assigned to the alkali-granite belt. However, new dating showed that it is 40 Myr younger than the Khan-Bogdo pluton and a large fault separates it from the alkali-granite belt. In the same part of the South Gobi Desert, a dike series of alkaline K-shonkinites with a rare-metal carbonatite vein was found by V.I. Kovalenko west of the Lugingol pluton, near Mt. Baruun Hasar Uula, and a dike series of alkali and nepheline syenites was found by us northeast of the Lugingol pluton. These data give grounds to distinguish an intrusive complex of K-alkaline shonkinites and leucitic syenites with Late Paleozoic REE-bearing carbonatites. Thus, three alkaline-rock complexes of different ages are distinguished in the South Gobi Desert. We present refined geological maps of these complexes. The plutons of all three complexes are deposits of trace elements (REE, Nb, Zr, Y, P). The chemical composition of the silicate rocks of the complex, rare-metal agpaitic pegmatites, and carbonatite and apatite rare-metal ores was considered in detail. Shonkinites from Mt. Baruun Hasar Uula and the Mountain Pass mine (United States) and their carbonatites, along with the Lugingol carbonatites, belong to a single association of K-alkaline rocks and carbonatites, as evidenced by their identical chemical, mineral, and geochemical rare-metal compositions. Rare-earth element patterns and spidergrams show similarities and differences between the rare-metal rocks of three complexes as well as paragenetic differences between their rare-metal minerals. A rare process is described—the amorphization of rare-metal minerals, related to their high-temperature crystallization in a medium with abnormal silica contents of the Khan-Bogdo pegmatites. The parental magmas of the alkali-carbonatite complexes were generated from the EM-2 contaminated mantle that had undergone recycling, whereas the parental magmas of the Khan-Bogdo agpaitic alkali granites were produced from depleted mantle.     

Flat rare earth element patterns as an indicator of cumulate processes in the Lesser Qinling carbonatites, China

The Lesser Qinling carbonatite dykes are mainly composed of calcites. They are characterized by unusually high heavy rare earth element concentrations (HREE; e.g. Yb > 30 ppm) and flat to weakly light rare earth element (LREE) enriched chondrite-normalized patterns (La/Yb_n = 1.0–5.5), which is in marked contrast with all other published carbonatite data. The trace element contents of calcite crystals were measured in situ by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). Some crystals show reduced LREE from core to rim, whereas their HREE compositions are relatively constant. The total REE contents and chondrite-normalized REE patterns from the cores of carbonate crystals are similar to those of the whole rock. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of calcites fall within the range of primary, mantle-derived carbonatites. The initial Sr isotopic compositions (0.70480–0.70557) of calcites are consistent with an EM1 source or mixing between HIMU and EM1 mantle sources. However these sources cannot produce carbonatite parental magmas with a flat or slightly LREE enrichment pattern by low degrees of partial melting. Analyses of carbonates from other carbonatites show that carbonates have nearly flat REE pattern if they crystallize from a LREE enriched carbonatite melt. This implies that when carbonates crystallize from a carbonatite melt the calcite/melt partition coefficients (D) for HREE are much greater than the D for the LREE. The nearly flat REE patterns of the Lesser Qinling carbonatites can be explained if they are carbonate cumulates that contain little trapped carbonatite melt. Strong enrichment of HREE in the carbonatites may require their derivation by small degrees of melting from a garnet-poor source.