The rare earth elements（REE） composition of the polymetallic crusts and nodules obtained from the South China Sea（SCS） were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results revealed great diff...The rare earth elements（REE） composition of the polymetallic crusts and nodules obtained from the South China Sea（SCS） were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results revealed great differences in the REE abundances（∑REE） of the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules; the crusts show the highest ∑REE, whereas the nodules exhibit the lowest ∑REE. The similarity in their NASC-normalized patterns, the enriched light REE（LREE）, the markedly positive Ce anomaly（δCe）, and the non-or weakly positive Eu anomaly（δEu）, suggest that the polymetallic crusts and nodules are of hydrogenetic origin. Moreover, the REE contents and their relevant parameters are quite different among the various layers of the crusts and nodules, which probably results from the different marginal sea environments and mineral assemblages of the samples. The growth profiles of the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules reveal the tendency ∑REE and δCe to slightly increase from the outer to the inner layers, suggesting that the growth environments of these samples changed smoothly from an oxidizing to a relatively reducing environment; in addition, the crust ST1 may have experienced a regressive event（sea-level change） during its growth, although the REE composition of the seawater remained relatively stable. On the basis of the regional ∑REE distribution in the SCS crusts and nodules,the samples collected near the northern margin were influenced by terrigenous material more strongly compared with the other samples, and the REE contents are relatively low. Therefore, the special geotectonic environment is a significant factor influencing the abundance of elements, including REE and other trace elements. Compared with the oceanic seamount crusts and deep-sea nodules from other oceans,the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules exhibit special REE compositions and shale-normalized patterns, implying that the samples are of marginal sea-type Fe-Mn sedimentary deposits, which are strongly affected by the epicontinental environment, and that they grew in a more oxidative seawater environment. This analysis indicates that the oxidized seawater environment and the special nano property of their Fe-Mn minerals enrich the REE adsorption.展开更多
Ferromanganese nodules and crusts contain relatively high concentration of rare earth elements（REE） and yttrium（REY）,with a growing interest in exploitation as an alternative to land-based REY resources.On the bas...Ferromanganese nodules and crusts contain relatively high concentration of rare earth elements（REE） and yttrium（REY）,with a growing interest in exploitation as an alternative to land-based REY resources.On the basis of comprehensive geochemical approach,the abundance and distribution of REY in the ferromanganese nodules from the South China Sea are analyzed.The results indicate that the REY contents in ferromanganese deposits show a clear geographic regularity.Total REY contents range from 69.1×10^-6 to 2 919.4×10^-6,with an average value of 1 459.5×10^-6.Especially,the enrichment rate of Ce content is high,accounting for almost 60% of the total REY.This REE enrichment is controlled mainly by the sorption of ferromanganese oxides and clay minerals in the nodules and crusts.Moreover,the total REY are higher in ferromanganese deposits of hydrogenous origin than of diagenetic origin.Finally,Light REE（LREE） and heavy REE（HREE） oxides of the ferromanganese deposits in the study area can be classified into four grades： non-enriched type,weakly enriched type,enriched type,and extremely enriched type.According to the classification criteria of rare earth resources,the Xisha and Zhongsha platform-central deep basin areas show a great potential for these rare earth metals.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National12th Five Year Plan Project(No.DY-125-13-R-05)Natural Sciences Foundation of China(No.40343019.40473024)+2 种基金project from the State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research in Nanjing University(No.20-15-07)the Project Supported by Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme(2011)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(No.121gjc05,091gpy09)
文摘The rare earth elements（REE） composition of the polymetallic crusts and nodules obtained from the South China Sea（SCS） were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results revealed great differences in the REE abundances（∑REE） of the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules; the crusts show the highest ∑REE, whereas the nodules exhibit the lowest ∑REE. The similarity in their NASC-normalized patterns, the enriched light REE（LREE）, the markedly positive Ce anomaly（δCe）, and the non-or weakly positive Eu anomaly（δEu）, suggest that the polymetallic crusts and nodules are of hydrogenetic origin. Moreover, the REE contents and their relevant parameters are quite different among the various layers of the crusts and nodules, which probably results from the different marginal sea environments and mineral assemblages of the samples. The growth profiles of the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules reveal the tendency ∑REE and δCe to slightly increase from the outer to the inner layers, suggesting that the growth environments of these samples changed smoothly from an oxidizing to a relatively reducing environment; in addition, the crust ST1 may have experienced a regressive event（sea-level change） during its growth, although the REE composition of the seawater remained relatively stable. On the basis of the regional ∑REE distribution in the SCS crusts and nodules,the samples collected near the northern margin were influenced by terrigenous material more strongly compared with the other samples, and the REE contents are relatively low. Therefore, the special geotectonic environment is a significant factor influencing the abundance of elements, including REE and other trace elements. Compared with the oceanic seamount crusts and deep-sea nodules from other oceans,the SCS polymetallic crusts and nodules exhibit special REE compositions and shale-normalized patterns, implying that the samples are of marginal sea-type Fe-Mn sedimentary deposits, which are strongly affected by the epicontinental environment, and that they grew in a more oxidative seawater environment. This analysis indicates that the oxidized seawater environment and the special nano property of their Fe-Mn minerals enrich the REE adsorption.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41376057,41306047,41676056the Spanish project SUBVENT under contract No.CGL2012-39524-C02
文摘Ferromanganese nodules and crusts contain relatively high concentration of rare earth elements（REE） and yttrium（REY）,with a growing interest in exploitation as an alternative to land-based REY resources.On the basis of comprehensive geochemical approach,the abundance and distribution of REY in the ferromanganese nodules from the South China Sea are analyzed.The results indicate that the REY contents in ferromanganese deposits show a clear geographic regularity.Total REY contents range from 69.1×10^-6 to 2 919.4×10^-6,with an average value of 1 459.5×10^-6.Especially,the enrichment rate of Ce content is high,accounting for almost 60% of the total REY.This REE enrichment is controlled mainly by the sorption of ferromanganese oxides and clay minerals in the nodules and crusts.Moreover,the total REY are higher in ferromanganese deposits of hydrogenous origin than of diagenetic origin.Finally,Light REE（LREE） and heavy REE（HREE） oxides of the ferromanganese deposits in the study area can be classified into four grades： non-enriched type,weakly enriched type,enriched type,and extremely enriched type.According to the classification criteria of rare earth resources,the Xisha and Zhongsha platform-central deep basin areas show a great potential for these rare earth metals.
