Geology and mineralization of the Bayan Obo supergiant carbonatite-type REE-Nb-Fe deposit in Inner Mongolia, China: A review

The Bayan Obo supergiant carbonatite-related rare-earth-element-niobium-iron(REE-Nb-Fe) endogenetic deposit(thereafter as the Bayan Obo deposit), located at 150 km north of Baotou City in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is the largest rare-earth element(REE) resource in the world. Tectonically,this deposit is situated on the northern margin of the North China Craton and adjacent to the Xing’anMongolian orogenic belt to the south. The main strata within the mining area include the Neoarchean Se’ertengshan Group and the Mesoproterozoic Bayan Obo Group. Generally, the rare earth, niobium, and iron mineralization within the deposit are intrinsically related to the dolomite carbonatites and the extensive alteration of the country rocks caused by the carbonatite magma intrusion. The alteration of country rocks can be categorized into three types: contact metasomatism(anti-skarn and skarn alteration), fenitization,and hornfelsic alternation. As indicated by previous studies and summarized in this review, the multielement mineralization at Bayan Obo is closely associated with the metasomatic replacement of siliceous country rocks by carbonatite magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The metasomatic process is comparable to the conventional skarnification that formed due to the intrusion of intermediate-acid magmatic rocks into limestone strata. However, the migration pattern of Si O2, Ca O, and Mg O in this novel metasomatic process is opposite to the skarn alteration. Accordingly, this review delineates, for the first time, an antiskarn metallogenic model for the Bayan Obo deposit, revealing the enigmatic relationship between the carbonatite magmatic-hydrothermal processes and the related iron and rare earth mineralization.Moreover, this study also contributes to a better understanding of the REE-Nd-Fe metallogenetic processes and the related fluorite mineralization at the Bayan Obo deposit.

内蒙古白云鄂博铁-铌-稀土矿床矿化蚀变矿物组合及流体组成

针对内蒙古白云鄂博铁-铌-稀土矿床是否多期成矿及底板白云岩的成因争论,本文通过光薄片岩矿鉴定和扫描电子显微镜研究,获得如下信息:(1)碳酸岩脉、磁铁矿石、蚀变岩及矿化白云岩中矿化蚀变的矿物组成类似,均以磁铁矿(碳酸岩脉中除外)、独居石、氟碳酸稀土矿物(氟碳铈矿等)、方解石、萤石、磷灰石、富钡矿物(重晶石或毒重石)、黑云母、富钠矿物(钠闪石、霓石)等为主,常见硫化物,显示为同一种富含Fe、REE、Ca、Ba、K、Na、Si及挥发分CO_(2)、P_(2)O_(5)、F、S的流体,岩(矿)石的结构构造也显示出明显的一期成矿特点,支持白云鄂博矿床主体是一期成矿事件的产物。(2)稀土矿化与底板白云岩不是同一流体的产物,稀土矿化与方解石为主的碳酸岩脉有关,有可能为火成碳酸岩或浆液过渡态流体;底板白云岩是稀土矿化的围岩,有更多的沉积成因信息,可能为热水沉积岩,或者为热液改造的沉积碳酸盐岩。(3)磁铁矿化与稀土矿化是同一成矿事件的产物,但碳酸岩中缺乏磁铁矿表明,铁质来源与稀土来源是否相同仍需要进一步研究。

白云鄂博铁矿石中的萤石及其中包裹体的特征

为了从白云鄂博铁矿中回收萤石,提高萤石精矿的品位,采用光片法测定了白云鄂博铁矿石中萤石的赋存状态及萤石中的包裹体。结果表明,白云鄂博铁矿石中的萤石夹杂脉石多,嵌布粒度细,是一种极其难选的矿石。在铁矿物富集的区域,萤石中的包裹体密度可以高达2100粒/mm^(2)。由于受包裹体的影响,白云鄂博萤石精矿比相同选别条件下一般萤石矿选出的精矿品位低。在白云鄂博铁矿石中,-75μm的萤石微粒绝大部分都集中在5~30μm,30~75μm粒级很少,进一步细磨提高-30μm粒级的比例,不会显著地提高萤石的解离度。建议生产现场以“低质高产”组织生产为宜,在目前的磨矿粒度下,做好“选净”工作更为切实可行。

白云鄂博主、东矿三个剖面地球化学特征及其研究意义

近年来关于白云鄂博Nb-REE-Fe矿床H8岩体火成水成归属的争论已渐息,而矿床成矿过程以及REE富集机制仍是学术界关注的热点。文章对白云鄂博矿床白云石碳酸岩体、霓长岩化蚀变带、尖山组板岩3个典型剖面开展系统的岩石地球化学工作,发现赋矿碳酸岩、霓长岩、铁矿石微量与稀土元素配分模式具有相似性,靠近H8岩体的尖山组板岩往往有着更高的稀土元素含量,以及与成矿碳酸岩相近的微量元素配分模式。区内各类岩石单元稀土元素分馏明显,全岩La_(N)/Nd_(N)比值的变化规律显示,H8岩体内部比边缘更富La,边缘比岩体内部更富Nd。通过岩(矿)石薄片BSE图像结合矿物电子探针分析显示,H8岩体内的稀土元素矿物(主要是独居石、氟碳铈矿等)可分为2组,一组相对富La,呈半自形-他形,星点状分布;另一组相对富Nd,呈他形细粒,脉状分布。两组矿物中不同元素的富集特征可能代表了结晶过程中流体环境的改变。上述实验结合地质勘查结果表明,白云鄂博矿床初始成矿物质的起源与H8碳酸岩一致,均来源于中元古代碳酸岩岩浆活动,而不同类型的稀土元素矿物对应了白云岩成岩阶段与萤石矿化阶段两个不同的稀土矿化阶段。

白云尾矿与转炉渣制备烧结透水砖及性能研究

为充分利用白云鄂博再选尾矿和包钢转炉渣,以其为原料采用高温煅烧的方式制备烧结透水砖。结果表明:选定钢渣骨料级配5~10 mm∶2.5~5 mm∶0~2.5 mm=4∶3∶3,最佳方案为尾矿掺量25%,成型压力30MPa,烧结温度1180℃,保温时间50 min,此时透水砖的粘结相为镁铁尖晶石相和硅酸钙相,抗压强度为28 MPa,透水系数为0.091 cm/s,均优于国标《烧结普通砖》(GB/T 5101-2017)中MU25(25 MPa)的抗压强度要求和《透水路面砖和透水路面板》(GB/T 25993-2010)中A级0.02cm/s的透水系数要求。

白云鄂博矿选冶固废烧结法制备微晶玻璃研究

为了更好地综合利用白云鄂博矿选冶固废,本文以白云鄂博萤石尾矿和包钢高炉渣为主要原料,采用一步烧结法研究了不同原料配比对制备微晶玻璃的影响。采用DSC、XRD、SEM、万能试验机、多道γ能谱仪进行表征分析,研究了不同原料配比对制备微晶玻璃的影响。结果表明:不同原料配比时,微晶玻璃主晶相为斜辉石、透辉石、鳞石英;随着萤石尾矿和高炉渣质量配比的增加,微晶玻璃颜色逐渐加深,且抗折强度先升高后降低,再升高再降低;当萤石尾矿和高炉渣质量配比为5∶5时,微晶玻璃抗折强度最高,达到76.85 MPa,主晶相为斜辉石和透辉石,晶粒大小均匀,排列规则;当萤石尾矿与高炉渣质量配比为2∶8时,微晶玻璃产品符合B类装饰装修材料标准,当萤石尾矿与高炉渣质量配比为3∶7、5∶5、6∶4时,微晶玻璃产品符合C类装饰装修材料标准。

白云鄂博稀土白云岩电磁学特征与影响因素

白云鄂博是全球最大的稀土矿,也是我国著名的铁矿区。稀土白云岩是白云鄂博稀土矿主要赋矿岩体,大部分铁矿也赋存于其中。然而,稀土白云岩的岩石电磁学特征至今没有清楚的认识,影响了电磁法勘探资料解释及稀土白云岩发育规律的认识。本文测量了白云鄂博稀土白云岩、铁矿石样品和部分围岩的岩石复电阻率,为分析岩矿石复电阻率的分布规律和影响因素,还测量了样品的磁化率数据。利用手持XRF分析仪对样品进行成分粗分析,部分样品进行了主微量分析和显微镜下分析。结果显示,矿区岩石电阻率变化范围跨度大,而且相同岩性岩石电阻率差异较大。矿区围岩与矿石(铁、稀土)之间有较为明显的磁化率差异、轻稀土元素含量(LREE:La、Ce、Pr、Nd)差异显著。岩石组分与岩石电磁属性的交汇结果显示,岩石磁化率与岩石Fe_(2)O^(T)_(3)含量正相关。镜下分析发现,磁铁矿的分布与联结程度影响白云鄂博铁矿石电阻率。白云鄂博稀土白云岩具有中高阻、甚至高阻特征,岩石中大量发育的高阻矿物是影响其电磁学特征的重要影响因素。岩石电磁学分析为白云鄂博电磁法勘探数据解释和隐伏矿预测提供了重要的岩石物理依据。

白云鄂博多金属矿含铁矿物嵌布特性研究

白云鄂博多金属矿是我国复杂难选铁矿资源之一,近年来对多金属矿进行技术攻关,但铁资源利用率较低。为了解矿石性质的变化,采用化学分析、矿物参数自动定量分析系统、偏光显微镜、扫描电子显微镜等方法及设备对多金属矿中铁矿物进行嵌布特性研究。结果表明,多金属矿中TFe含量为31.55%,主要含铁矿物为磁铁矿、赤铁矿、褐铁矿、黄铁矿(磁黄铁矿)、菱铁矿,其中磁铁矿含量占9.467%,赤铁矿含量占31.280%。矿石中铁矿物以磁性铁和赤褐铁两种铁物相为主,磁性率为49.15%,为混合铁矿石类型。矿石中磁铁矿多与脉石相互交织形成网状嵌布,且夹杂少量黄铁矿,而赤铁矿多以斑状、粒状、浸染状、鳞片状集合体嵌布,两者中存在微细粒包裹体结构。铁矿物粒度不均,-0.040mm粒级约占55%,且磁铁矿、赤铁矿与28种矿物嵌连,主要是萤石、赤铁矿、磁铁矿、稀土、石英、重晶石、方解石、铁白云石。在-0.074mm占60%的磨矿细度条件下,铁矿物解离度达82.78%,但微细粒铁矿物包裹体与脉石、微细粒脉石矿物包裹体与铁矿物均解离困难,阶段磨矿及充分细磨是铁矿物高效回收的关键。

白云鄂博某难选铁矿石氢基矿相转化——磁选尾矿浮选稀土试验

堆置多年的白云鄂博中贫氧化矿含有铁、稀土等成分,常规工艺难以高效分选,但氢基矿相转化—磁选工艺可高效回收其中的铁。为了解氢基矿相转化过程是否影响富稀土铁尾矿中稀土矿物的可浮性,进行了系统的选矿试验。结果表明,在506E用量4200 g/t、水玻璃用量1800 g/t、矿浆温度65℃条件下,采用2粗3精、中矿顺序返回闭路浮选流程处理矿样,能够获得REO品位59.00%、REO回收率67.91%的稀土精矿。化学成分分析及X射线衍射分析结果表明,浮选精矿中主要成分为稀土氧化物(Ce_(7)O_(12))、独居石及少量萤石,稀土组分有效富集在精矿中;氢基矿相转化过程未对稀土组分的浮选回收造成不利影响。

白云鄂博稀土混合精矿工艺矿物学研究

目前白云鄂博稀土元素的提取主要采用重污染和高能耗的高温浓硫酸焙烧法,“三废”问题至今没有得到合理的解决,且钍元素作为一种伴生组分难以得到再回收利用。采用自动矿物分析仪、X射线衍射分析、扫描电镜分析、配分分析、光学显微镜等分析方法对白云鄂博稀土混合精矿的化学成分、矿物组成、粒度及嵌布特征等进行了工艺矿物学研究,结果表明,该稀土混合精矿REO品位为59.25%,主要稀土矿物由氟碳铈矿、独居石和氟碳钙铈矿组成,主要脉石矿物为磷灰石、萤石、黄铁矿和磁/赤铁矿。在矿物中主要分布的稀土元素为La、Ce、Pr、Nd、Sm、Gd。矿样中矿石-38μm粒级含量占95.92%,氟碳铈矿和独居石单体解离度均在55%以上,矿石整体嵌布特征较为复杂,稀土矿物与萤石和磷灰石的连生关系最为密切。为简化冶金工艺,高效提取稀土元素,提出了采用矿相转化后“浮少抑多”的方法分离氟碳铈矿和独居石的展望,为白云鄂博稀土混合精矿的合理开发应用提供新思路。

用氢氟酸从白云鄂博矿中浸出铌及动力学研究

针对白云鄂博尾矿中含铌矿物综合回收利用中存在的问题,研究了用氢氟酸浸出含铌矿物中的铌,确定了最佳工艺条件,并探讨了浸出动力学。结果表明:在反应温度90℃、液固体积质量比7/1、氢氟酸浓度20 mol/L、反应时间2 h、搅拌速率300 r/min条件下,铌浸出率达90.91%;铌的浸出过程符合核收缩模型,浸出过程由化学反应和扩散混合控制,表观活化能为35.459 kJ/mol。该法能有效提取尾矿中的铌,有利于后续分离提纯。

内蒙古白云鄂博矿床年代学特征及其地质意义

内蒙古白云鄂博矿床是世界罕见的特大型REE-Nb-Fe多金属共生矿床,由于经历了复杂的区域地质演化历史,至今仍对稀土成矿时代认识不一。基于前人的同位素年代学研究成果,结合矿床地质特征对稀土成矿时代进行讨论。研究表明,白云鄂博矿区经历了华北克拉通2.5~1.8 Ga的前寒武纪构造演化过程;哥伦比亚超大陆裂解的最后阶段,约1.3 Ga在白云鄂博裂谷形成了巨型稀土矿床,与同期碳酸岩墙形成时代一致;受后期华北克拉通北缘古亚洲洋俯冲碰撞造山的影响,白云鄂博地区引发热液交代活动,形成了晚期稀土矿脉和原有稀土矿物的重结晶,导致H 8赋矿白云岩同位素系统受到扰动,呈现出多期次(1.0~0.2 Ga)的同位素年龄结果。总之,白云鄂博是一个在约1.3 Ga裂谷成矿并叠加了加里东和海西2期热扰动事件的巨型稀土矿床。

白云鄂博西矿含铁岩选矿工艺试验研究

为实现白云鄂博西矿TFe品位13%~16%铁素资源(含铁岩)的回收利用,本文以含铁岩为研究对象,通过采用化学分析、X射线衍射仪、光学显微镜等检测手段研究其矿石性质,并在此基础上进行系统的选矿试验。研究结果表明:该含铁岩中TFe品位13.14%,可回收的主要金属矿物为磁铁矿,占全铁比例为52.28%。含铁岩需破碎至−3 mm时才能获得TFe品位20%以上的预选粗精矿,且通过阶段破碎-分级预选流程试验可获得尾矿抛除产率56.01%、粗精矿TFe品位20.62%、磁性铁品位14.80%、TFe回收率69.19%、磁性铁回收率94.27%的技术指标,推荐采用三段破碎-两级预选-高压辊磨超细碎抛尾的原则流程作为预选技术改造方案。将预选粗精矿细磨至−0.045 mm含量85.80%时,经过两次弱磁选后最终获得TFe品位65.10%、TFe回收率50.25%、磁性铁回收率93.03%的合格铁精矿。该研究结果可为含铁岩的高效回收利用提供科学依据。

基于BNF的OBO规范化和OWL DL转换研究

大多数生物本体包括基因本体这样重要的本体都用OBO表示。这些本体尤其是其中用共享和可控的词汇来注释的实验数据将会融入到语义网中。随着OWL语言成为W3C的本体标准建模语言,将用OBO表示的生物本体转换成用OWL语言表示显得十分必要。本文用BNF范式规范了OBO的语法,设计了一个规则将OBO转换成OWL DL,并且设计和实现了一个简易的转换系统。

OBOParser,一个基于语义网的开放生物学本体解析器

本文以OBO组织制定的规范为对象,开发了一个基于语义网技术的OBO本体解析器——OBOParser。该工具实现了OBO格式与RDF/OWL格式间的平滑转换,可以为生命科学不同研究领域的工作人员提供跨学科的语义查询和推理服务。

The giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit,China:Controversy and ore genesis

Bayan Obo ore deposit is the largest rare-earth element（REE） resource,and the second largest niobium（Nb） resource in the world.Due to the complicated element/mineral compositions and involving several geological events,the REE enrichment mechanism and genesis of this giant deposit still remains intense debated.The deposit is hosted in the massive dolomite,and nearly one hundred carbonatite dykes occur in the vicinity of the deposit.The carbonatite dykes can be divided into three types from early to late：dolomite,co-existing dolomite-calcite and calcite type,corresponding to different evolutionary stages of carbonatite magmatism based on the REE and trace element data.The latter always has higher REE content.The origin of the ore-hosting dolomite at Bayan Obo has been addressed in various models,ranging from a normal sedimentary carbonate rocks to volcano-sedimentary sequence,and a large carbonatitic intrusion.More geochemical evidences show that the coarse-grained dolomite represents a Mesoproterozoic carbonatite pluton and the fine-grained dolomite resulted from the extensive REE mineralization and modification of the coarse-grained variety.The ore bodies,distributed along an E-W striking belt,occur as large lenses and underwent more intense fluoritization and fenitization.The first episode mineralization is characterized by disseminated mineralization in the dolomite.The second or main-episode is banded and/or massive mineralization,cut by the third episode consisting of aegirinerich veins.Various dating methods gave different mineralization ages at Bayan Obo,resulting in long and hot debates.Compilation of available data suggests that the mineralization is rather variable with two peaks at～1400 and 440 Ma.The early mineralization peak closes in time to the intrusion of the carbonatite dykes.A significant thermal event at ca.440 Ma resulted in the formation of late-stage veins with coarse crystals of REE minerals.Fluids involving in the REE-Nb-Fe mineralization at Bayan Obo might be REE-F-C02-NaCI-H20 system.The presence of REE-carbonates as an abundant solid in the ores shows that the original ore-forming fluids are very rich in REE,and therefore,have the potential to produce economic REE ores at Bayan Obo.the Bayan Obo deposit is a product of mantle-derived carbonatitic magmatism at ca.1400 Ma,which was likely related to the breakup of Columbia.Some remobilization of REE occurred due to subduction of the Palaeo-Asian oceanic plate during the Silurian,forming weak vein-like mineralization.

Bayan Obo Carbonatites:Texture Evidence from Polyphase Intrusive and Extrusive Carbonatites

Most of the so-called Bayan Obo fine-grained dolomite marbles collected from the main and east orebodies show a microporphyritic texture,namely the microphenocrysts are set in a very finegrained matrix,although nearly all of them have undergone recrystallization caused either by deformation or alteration.The texture seems likely to have maintained the original features.It is known that one of the most characteristic textures of volcanic rocks is the porphyritic texture,and the microporphyritic texture is a variety in which both the phenocrysts and the matrix are only distinguishable with the microscope.Therefore,the dolomite marbles in the main and east orebodies may be related to the extrusive carbonatites.In addition,there also occur some carbonatite sills and dykes with different textures at Bayan Obo.Thus,the Bayan Obo carbonatites are polyphase intrusive and extrusive carbonatites.

Detrital Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Provenance of Bayan Obo Group, Northern Margin of North China Craton: New Implications for the Position of NCC in Rodinia

The paleoposition of North China Craton in Rodinia has long been in controversial. This paper mainly focuses on the U-Pb geochronological studies of detrital zircons obtained from Bayan Obo Group exposed in the Shangdu area, Inner Mongolia, aiming to provide more information for interprating this problem. Based on the acquired data, this paper comes to the following conclusions. Firstly, the depositional age of Bayan Obo Group might be from Meso- to Neoproterozoic according to the zircons U-Pb dating results. The lower succession of this group, namely Dulahala and Jianshan formations deposited between 1800 and 1650 Ma. The Halahuogete and Bilute formations deposited between 1500 and 1350 Ma. For Baiyinbaolage and Hujiertu formations, their depositional age was 1250-900 Ma. Secondly, for the provenance of Bayan Obo Group, this paper believes detrital zircons with age of 2.51-2.71 Ga and 2.00-2.48 Ga were from Guyang, Xi Ulanbulang and Zhuozi area;the Khondalite Belt provided detrital zircons with age of 1.95-1.80 Ga;zircons with age of 1.60-1.75 Ga might come from granitic rocks in Miyun Area. The magmatism after 1.60 Ga was rarely recorded in the NCC, therefore those zircons with ages younger than 1.60 Ga might come from outside of NCC. The magmatism with the same age existed in Baltic, Amazonia and Laurentia. Based on previous paleomagnetic researches, this paper proposes that NCC might receive detritus from Baltic during 1560-1350 Ma and had affinity with Laurentia and Amazonia at ~0.9 Ga in Rodinia. Baltic, Amazonia and Laurentia might be potential provenances for non-NCC detritus in Bayan Obo Group.

Trachytic Rock and Associated Fenitization in the Bayan Obo Ore Deposit,Inner Mongolia,China:Evidence for Magmatic-Hydrothermal Mineralization Related to a Carbonatitic Complex

Trachytic rock and its altered rock—fenite—in the Bayan Obo ore district, Inner Mongolia, China, were referred to as slate or feldspar rock before, and identified by the authors for the first time (in 1992). In the paper the mineral assemblages, structures and textures and petrochemical compositions of the rocks, as well as the electron microprobe analysis of feldspars in the rocks are described. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the trachytic rock is 1096 ± 56 Ma, with INd=0.51100±4 (2 s?) and ?Nd(t)= ?4.4 ± 0.7. Alterations of the trachytic rock, including microclinization, riebeckitization, aegirinization and biotitization, and accompanied rare element and REE mineralizations are discussed. Based on the occurrence of the trachytic rock and associated fenitization it is deduced that the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE ore deposit is genetically related to magmatic-hydrothermal activity of an alkali carbonatite complex.

Composite Stratigraphy of the Sailinhudong Group and Ore-bearing Micrite Mounds in the Bayan Obo Deposits,Inner Mongolia,China

Based on studies of sequence stratigraphy, event stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy, it is concluded that the Sailinhudong Group is a part of the Bayan Obo Group. Some trilobite fragments are first found in thin sections of the rock from the lower part of the Sailinhudong Group and some Ordovician acritarchs and chitinozoans are also found in this group. A formationa unit of carbonate seismites is first recognized in the upper part and a huge micrite mound is first identified at the top. Dolomite, the host rock of the super giant Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE deposits, is neither an igneous carbonatite nor a common bedded sedimentary carbonate, but a huge micrite mound. It has the same macroscopic characters as the micrite mounds at the top of the Sailinhudong Group, which suggests that they should be of the same horizon. According to the fossils, the Sailinhudong and Bayan Obo Groups should be of the Early Palaeozoic rather than the Middle Proterozoic. The new discovery and new idea will throw light on the explanation of the genesis of the supergiant Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE deposits.