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.

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.

Fenitized Wall Rock Geochemistry of the First Carbonatite Dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China

The first carbonatite dyke at Bayan Obo is well exposed on the surface for a length and width of approximately 60 m and 1.1-1.5 m, respectively. Along its strike, the fenitized H1 （Qs） and H2 （Cs） quartzite is replaced by Na-amphiboles, aegirines, and alkali-feldspars, intermittently stretching as far away as 800 m in length. Based on petrographical characteristics, the dyke＇s fenitized wall rocks are divisible into different zones： （1） outer, （2） middle, and （3） inner. The outer zone is 5-17 m from the NW margin of the dyke. The middle zone is located at 3.5-5 m from the NW margin of the dyke. The inner contact zone is located between direct contact with the dyke and 3.5 m from the dyke. In the outer zone, upon visual examination, no evidence of outcrop fenitization was found and the major elemental rock composition is nearly identical to the unaltered H1 and H2 lithologies. In the thin sections, however, small amounts of Na-amphibole and phlogopite are present. Despite relatively poor development throughout the 5 m of fenitization, the wall rocks have retained at least a small geochemical signature comparable to the original sedimentary protolith. The fenites occurring in the inner zone exhibit distinct variations, not only for the sharp contact at the outcrop scale, but also for variations in major, rare earth elements （REE）, and trace elements and Sm-Nd isotope composition. The wall rocks within 3.5 m have undergone strong fenitization, inheriting the geochemical signature derived from the carbonatite dyke. Fenitization in the middle zone was not as strong, at least compared to the inner zone, but was stronger than the outer zone. Compared to some trace elements and REEs, the major elements are relatively immobile during fenitization. The Sm-Nd isotope data for the carbonatite dyke and the adjacent fenitized wall rocks, where the Sm and Nd originate solely from the dyke, plots as a six-point isochron with an age of 1308~56 Ma. This age is identical to that of ore-bearing dolomite carbonatite and the related ore-forming events, indicating that there may be a petrogenetic link between the two. Based on Sr and Nd isotope compositional data, the first carbonatite dyke may be derived from an enriched mantle.

Iron isotope fractionation during fenitization:a case study of carbonatite dykes from Bayan Obo,Inner Mongolia,China

As a powerful tracer in high-temperature geochemistry,Fe isotopes have been studied for their behaviour during fl uid exsolution and evolution related to felsic magma system,but that for carbonatite magma system remains unknown.Here we study the Fe isotope fractionation behaviour during fenitization–processes that widely occur associated with carbonatite or alkaline intrusions.Nine fenite/carbonatite samples from carbonatite dykes at Bayan Obo area are analyzed for their Fe isotope compositions as well as elemental compositions.Combined with previous reported carbonatite δ^(56)Fe data,the results show that carbonatites range from-0.35‰to 0.28‰,with an average of-0.10‰in δ^(56)Fe values,while fenites range from-0.17‰to 0.30‰,with an average of 0.11‰in δ^(56)Fe values.This indicates that fenitizing fl uids exsolved from carbonatite melts are enriched in heavier Fe isotopes.Such a Fe isotope fractionation trend is diff erent from that for fl uid exsolution from felsic magmatism.δ^(56)Fe values in fenites are negatively correlated with indicators of fenitization intensity such as(Na+K),Ti,Ba,Th,Nb,U or Pb abundances,likely refl ecting that Fe isotopes fractionate during the evolution of the fenitizing fl uids.Thus,Fe isotopes are a valuable tool for tracing fl uid exsolution and evolution relevant to carbonatite magmatism and related metal mineralization.

Influence of La-Co substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of low-temperature sintered M-type barium ferrites

La-Co substituted M-type barium ferrites （BaM） were prepared by traditional solid state method and sintered at low tem- perature （1173 K）. X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and vibrating sample magnetometer （VSM） were employed to investigate the influence of La-Co on the structure and magnetic properties of the samples. By sintering at 1173 K for 6 h in air, single phase M-type barium ferrites with chemical composition of Ba（LaCo）xFel〉z^Oj9 （x=0.0~）.5） were formed. M-H curves showed that the magnetic properties of barium ferrites were obviously effected by La-Co substitution. The saturation magnetization （Ms） and coercivity （He） reached the maximum value of 65.15 AmZ/kg and 4165 Oe, respectively. This behavior was attributed to the sites of La-Co substitutions and the particles size. SEM revealed that the shape of ferrite particles was influenced by La-Co substitution.