Temporo-Spatial Distribution of Rare Metal and REE Deposits in Xinjiang, Northwest China

Many rare metal and REE deposits have been found in the Altay orogenic belt,on the northern margin of the Tarim massif and in the Kunlun-Altun orogenic belt, constituting threevery important rare metal-REE mineralization belts in western China. These deposits belong tovarious genetic types with complex ore-forming mechanism, and were formed in certain mineralizationepochs. On the basis of a systematic sum-up of geologic and geochemical achievements and^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar ages of potassium-rich minerals as well as whole-rock Rb-Sr dating results, theauthors systematically analyzed the spatial distribution and mineralization epochs of rare metal-REEdeposits in Xinjiang, northwestern China, and concluded that although the Hercynian rare metal-REEmineralizations in this area are very important, pre- and post-Hercynian (especially Indosinian andearly Yanshanian) rare metal-REE mineralizations also have important theoretical and economicsignificance.

From mantle to critical zone:A review of large and giant sized deposits of the rare earth elements

The rare earth elements are unusual when defining giant-sized ore deposits,as resources are often quoted as total rare earth oxide,but the importance of a deposit may be related to the grade for individual,or a limited group of the elements.Taking the total REE resource,only one currently known deposit（Bayan Obo） would class as giant（〉1.7×10^7 tonnes contained metal）,but a range of others classify as large（〉1.7×10^6 tonnes）.With the exception of unclassified resource estimates from the Olympic Dam 10 CG deposit,all of these deposits are related to alkaline igneous activity- either carbonatites or agpaitic nepheline syenites.The total resource in these deposits must relate to the scale of the primary igneous source,but the grade is a complex function of igneous source,magmatic crystallisation,hydrothermal modification and supergene enrichment during weathering.Isotopic data suggest that the sources conducive to the formation of large REE deposits are developed in subcontinental lithospheric mantle,enriched in trace elements either by plume activity,or by previous subduction.The reactivation of such enriched mantle domains in relatively restricted geographical areas may have played a role in the formation of some of the largest deposits（e.g.Bayan Obo）.Hydrothermal activity involving fluids from magmatic to meteoric sources may result in the redistribution of the REE and increases in grade,depending on primary mineralogy and the availability of ligands.Weathering and supergene enrichment of carbonatite has played a role in the formation of the highest grade deposits at Mount Weld（Australia） and Tomtor（Russia）.For the individual REE with the current highest economic value（Nd and the HREE）,the boundaries for the large and giant size classes are two orders of magnitude lower,and deposits enriched in these metals（agpaitic systems,ion absorption deposits） may have significant economic impact in the near future.

Rare earth element geochemistry of hydrothermal deposits from Southwest Indian Ridge

The REE compositions of hydrothermal deposits and basalt samples from the Southwest Indian Ridge （SWIR） were determined with ICP-MS. The results show that there are significant differences between different types of samples although all samples show relative LREE enrichment. The contents of REE in hydrothermal sulfides and alterated rocks samples are lower （from 7.036× 10^-6 to 23.660×10^-6）, while those in the white chimney deposits are relatively higher （ranging from 84.496 × 10^-6 to 103.511 × 10^- 6）. Both of them are lower than basalts. Chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns show that sulfides and alterated rocks samples are characterized by significant positive Eu anomalies. On the contrary, white chimney deposits have obvious negative Eu anomalies, which may be caused by abundant calcite existing in the white chimney samples. Both the content and distribution pattern of REE in sulfides suggest that REE most possibly is originally derived from hydrothermal fluids, but influenced by the submarine reducing ore-forming environment, seawater convection, mineral compositions as well as the constraint of mineral crystallizations.

Rare Earth Element Geochemistry on Magmatic Rocks and Gold Deposits in Shizishan Ore-Field of Tongling, China

REE geochemical characteristics of the magmatic rocks and gold deposits in Shizishan ore-field of Tongling were studied. Three types of the magmatic rocks have almost the same chondrite-normalized REE patterns, Eu and Ce anomalous values, and ∑REE, ∑LREE/∑HREE regular changes, which indicates that their magmas come from the same source and their digenetic mechanism is fractional crystallization. In three gold deposits, the mineral ores and related altered rocks have similar chondrite-normalized REE patterns and sharp Eu positive anomalous values. The REE contents reduced from the magmatic rocks to skamization or alteration magmatic rocks, skam type ores, sulphide type ores, wall-rocks limestone or marble. The REE geochemical characteristics of the ores and related rocks show that primary fluids originated from magmatic differentiation in lower pressure of shallow crust, ore-forming hydrothermal solutions gained REE and mineralization elements further from leaching the magmatic rocks, then superimposed and reformed the limestones or marbles and deposited ore-forming material.

State of rare earth elements in the rare earth deposits of Northwest Guizhou,China

We studied the states of rare earth elements in ore of the Xianglushan rare earth deposit. Rare earth ore samples were tested and examined by scanning electron microscope, electron probe, and chemical leaching. No independent rare earth minerals were detected by scanning electron microscope. Elements detected by the electronic probe for the in situ micro-zone of the sample included: O,Al, Si, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, K, Na, S, Cl, C, Cu, Cr, V, and Pt.Rare earth elements were not detected by electron probe.(NH_4)_2 SO_4,(NH_4)Cl, NaCl, and H_2 SO_4 were used as reagents in chemical leaching experiments that easily leached out rare earth elements under the action of 10%reagent, indicating that the rare earth elements in ore are mainly in the ionic state rather than present as rare earth minerals.

Geochemical Characteristics of Rare Earth Elements in Gejiu Tin Polymetallic Deposits, Yunnan Province, China

In order to get a better understanding of metallogeny, the geochemical characteristics of REE and trace element for Gejiu tin polymetallic deposits were studied by comparing concentrations of REE and trace elements in different type ores and rocks, including skarn-type ore, bedded-type ore, vein-type ore, altered granite, country rocks. Results of this study indicated that the metallogenic matters for different type ores in the study area might be derived from the same origin source, which may be mainly related to granitic activities. Furthermore, there are some differences in concentrations of REE in different ores due to their different depositional mechanism during that time. LREE concentrations were enriched relatively in the vein-type ores and the bedded-type ores with relatively low total REE concentrations, whereas total REE concentrations were higher in the skarn-type ores with LREE and HREE concentrations in wide variation ranges.

Rare earth elements and yttrium in ferromanganese deposits from the South China Sea:distribution,composition and resource considerations

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.

Trace Elements and Rare Earth Elements of Sulfide Minerals in the Tianqiao Pb-Zn Ore Deposit,Guizhou Province,China

Trace elements and rare earth elements（REE） of the sulfide minerals were determined by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The results indicate that V,Cu,Sn,Ga,Cd,In,and Se are concentrated in sphalerite,Sb,As,Ge,and Tl are concentrated in galena,and almost all trace elements in pyrite are low.The Ga and Cd contents in the light-yellow sphalerites are higher than that in the brown and the black sphalerites.The contents of Ge,Tl,In,and Se in brown sphalerites are higher than that in light-yellow sphalerites and black sphalerites.It shows that REE concentrations are higher in pyrite than in sphalerite,and galena.In sphalerites,the REE concentration decreases from light-yellow sphalerites,brown sphalerites,to black sphalerites.The ratios of Ga/In are more than 10, and Co/Ni are less than 1 in the studied sphalerites and pyrites,respectively,indicating that the genesis of the Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit might belong to sedimentary-reformed genesis associated with hydrothermal genesis.The relationship between LnGa and LnIn in sphalerite,and between LnBi and LnSb in galena,indicates that the Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit might belong to sedimentary-reformed genesis.Based on the chondrite-normalized REE patterns,δEu is a negative anomaly（0.13-0.88）,andδCe does not show obvious anomaly（0.88-1.31）;all the samples have low total REE concentrations（〈3 ppm） and a wide range of light rare earth element/high rare earth element ratios（1.12-12.35）.These results indicate that the ore-forming fluids occur under a reducing environment.Comparison REE compositions and parameters of sphalerites,galenas,pyrites,ores,altered dolostone rocks,strata carbonates,and the pyrite from Lower Carboniferous Datang Formation showed that the ore-forming fluids might come from polycomponent systems,that is,different chronostratigraphic units could make an important contribution to the ore-forming fluids.Combined with the tectonic setting and previous isotopic geochemistry evidence,we conclude that the ore-deposit genesis is hydrothermal,sedimentary reformed,with multisources characteristics of ore-forming fluids.

The Ore-forming Mechanism of the Jiajika Pegmatite-Type Rare Metal Deposit in Western Sichuan Province:Evidence from Isotope Dating

Granitic pegmatites are commonly thought to form by fractional crystallization or by liquid immiscibility of granitic magma; however, these proposals are based mainly on analyses of fluid and melt inclusions. Here, we use the Jiajika pegmatite deposit, the largest spodumene deposit in Asia, as a case study to investigate ore forming processes using isotope dating. Dating of a single granite sample from the Jiajika deposit using multiple methods gave a zircon U-Pb SHRIMP age of 208.4 ~ 3.9 Ma, an 4~Ar/39Ar age for muscovite of 182.9 ~ 1.7 Ma, and an 4~Ar/39Ar age for biotite of 169.9 ＋ 1.6 Ma. Based on these dating results and the 4~Ar/39Ar age of muscovite from the Jiajika pegmatite, a temperature-time cooling track for the Jiajika granite was constructed using closure temperatures of the different isotope systems. This track indicates that the granite cooled over ^-40 m. y., with segregation of the pegmatite fluid from the granitic magma at a temperature of ~700~C. This result suggests that the Jiajika pegmatite formed not by fractional crystallization, but by segregation of an immiscible liquid from the granitic magma. When compared with fractional crystallization, the relatively early timing of segregation of an immiscible liquid from a granitic magma can prevent the precipitation of ore-forming elements during crystallization, and suggests that liquid immiscibility could be an important ore-forming process for rare metal pegmatities. We also conclude that isotope dating is a method that can potentially be used to determine the dominant ore-forming processes that occurred during the formation of granite-related ore deposits, and suggest that this method can be employed to determine the formation history of the W-Sn ore deposits found elsewhere within the Nanling Metallogenic Belt.

A new type of rare earth elements deposit in weathering crust of Permian basalt in western Guizhou, NW China

A new type of rare earth elements （REEs） deposit was discovered from the gaolinite mudstone in the weathering crust of Permian basalt, Bijie region, western Guizhou, China. It contained ∑RE2O3 0.065%-1.086%. This type of REEs deposit was widely distributed with steady horizon and thickness of 3-4 m. The ore-bearing weathering crust （kaolinite） of the three discovered REEs deposits belonged to the third episode of the Emeishan basalt eruption. The new type of REEs deposit was suggested that basalt （tuff） weathering could lead to the enrichment of the rare earth elements. Therefore, it is of important economic significance to explore REEs deposits in the weathering crust of basalt （tuffs） in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Provinces.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements of Anqing Copper Deposit in Anhui Province

The geochemical features of REE were studied by comparing the copper ore with the skarn, the diorite and the stratum, to trace the source of metallogenic materials in Anqing copper deposit, Anhui. The origin of metallogenic hydrothermal fluids was studied through simulating REE pattern of the balanceable hydrothermal fluids. The results indicate that the metallogenic materials come from the diorite and the metallogenic hydrothermal fluids come from the dioritic magma. The results also show that the rare earth elements are relatively mobile during metallization.

Rare Earth Elements Geochemistry of Laowan Gold Deposit in Henan Province: Trace to Source of Ore-Forming Materials

The compositions of REE in quartz and pyrite from the main stage of the Laowan gold deposit in Henan Province and that in quartz from Laowan granite were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometry （ICP-MS） to trace the source of ore-forming materials. Meanwhile, the REE compositions of the deposit ore, granite and metamorphic wall rock were also considered for comparative studies in detail. The range of ∑REE of quartz and pyrite from the deposit ores is 4.18 × 10^-6- 30.91 × 10^-6, the average of ∑REE is 13.39 × 10^-6, and the average of ∑REE of quartz in the Laowan granite is 6.68 × 10^-6. There is no distinct difference of REE parameters between the deposit ore quartz and granite quartz. The quartz in gold deposit has the same REE particular parameters as quartzes from Laowan granite, such as δEu, δCe, （La/Yb）N and （La/Sm）N, partition degree of LREE to HREE, especially, the chondrite-normalized REE patterns, but no similarity to those from metamorphic wall rock, which shows that ore-forming hydrothermal fluid is mainly the fluid coming from the Laowan granite magma, rather than metamorphic fluid. Meanwhile, comparison studies on REE features between minerals from the deposit ores and related geological bodies in the deposit show that REE characteristics of minerals can serve as an indicator of ore-forming fluid properties and sources, while the REE characteristics of the bulk samples （such as deposit ores, granites and wall rocks） can not trace the source of the ore-forming materials exactly.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements in Xikeng Ag-Pb-Zn Ore Deposit, South Anhui, China

In this paper, a comparative study is done on the geochemical charateristics of REE in ore, ore-hosted rocks of Lantian group, granite related to ore deposit, and altered rocks for tracing origin of ore-forming materials. The result indicates that the ore-forming fluid and ore-forming materials for Xikeng silver-polymetallic ore deposit were derived from Yixian granite's magmatic activity. Water-rock reaction of the hydrothermal fluid with the carbonate-rich stratum led the altered rock to relatively enrich in HREE.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements in Hydrothermal Ore Deposit in Heishan Area,Shaanxi Province

The study on rare earth elements in hydrothermal ore deposit in Heishan area indicates that the REE concentration in rock with very weak negative Ce and Eu anomaly is far higher than those in ore. The REE pattern in ore is characterized by very low REE concentration, typical enrichment in LRE and distinctive negative Eu and Ce anomaly. δ Eu and δ Ce values vary from 0 51～0 6 to 0 71～0 77 and 0 84～0 88 to 0 60～0 78, respectively, as shown in samples from Fe Cu ore to Au ore. Different δ Eu and δ Ce values reveal that temperature gradually decreases and oxygen fugacity gradually increases when ore bearing hydrothermal solution evolves from early to late stage. It is likely that REE in solution is mainly transported in the forms of(RE(CO 3) 3F) 4- , (RE(CO 3)F 2) -, (RE(F,Cl) 2) + , (RE(CO 3) 3) 3- and (RE(CO 3) 4) 5- complexes.

Rare Earth Element and Trace Element Features of Gold-bearing Pyrite in the Jinshan Gold Deposit,Jiangxi Province

Jinshan gold deposit is located in northeastern Jiangxi,South China,which is related to the ductile shear zone.It has a gold reserve of more than 200 tons,with 80%of gold occurring in pyrite. The LREE of gold-bearing pyrite is as higher as 171.664 ppm on average,with relatively higher light rare earth elements（LREE;159.556 ppm） and lower HREE（12.108 ppm）.TheΣLREE/ΣHREE ratio is 12.612 and（La/Yb）_N is 11.765.These indicate that pyrite is rich in LREE.The（La/Sm）_N ratio is 3.758 and that of（Gd/Yb）_N is 1.695.These are obvious LREE fractionations.The rare earth element（REE） distribution patterns show obvious Eu anomaly with averageδEu values of 0.664,andδCe anomalies of 1.044.REE characteristics are similar to those of wall rocks（regional metamorphic rocks）,but different from those of the Dexing granodiorite porphyry and Damaoshan biotite granite.These features indicate that the ore-forming materials in the Jinshan gold deposit derived from the wall rocks, and the ore-forming fluids derived from metamorphic water.The Co/Ni ratio（average value 0.38） of pyrite suggests that the Jinshan gold deposit formed under a medium-low temperature.It is inferred from the values of high-field strength elements,LREE,Hf/Sm,Nb/La,and Th/La of the pyrite that the ore-forming fluids of the Jinshan gold deposit derived from metamorphic water with Cl〉F.

Geochemistry of Apatite from the Apatite-rich Iron Deposits in the Ningwu Region,East Central China

Four types of apatite have been identified in the Ningwu region. The first type of apatite is widely distributed in the middle dark colored zones （i.e. iron ores） of individual deposits. The assemblage includes magnetite, apatite and actinolite （or diopside）. The second type occurs within magnetite-apatite veins in the iron ores. The third type is seen in magnetite-apatite veins and （or） nodules in host rocks （i.e. gabbro-diorite porphyry or gabbro-diorite or pyroxene diorite）.The fourth type occurs within apatite-pyrite-quartz veins f＇dfing fractures in the Xiangshan Group. Rare earth elements （REE） geochemistry of apatite of the four occurrences in porphyry iron deposits is presented. The REE distribution patterns of apatite are generally similar to those of apatites in the Kiruna-type iron ores, nelsonites. They are enriched in fight REE, with pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The similarity of REE distribution patterns in apatites from various deposits in different locations in the world indicates a common process of formation for various ore types, e.g. immiscibility. Early magmatic apatites contain 3031.48-12080 ×10^-6 REE. Later hydrothermal apatite contains 1958 ×10^-6 REE, indicating that the later hydrothermal ore-forming solution contains lower REE. Although gabbro-diorite porphyry and apatite show similar REE patterns, gabbro-diorite porphyries have no europium anomalies or feeble positive or feeble negative europium anomalies, caused both by reduction environment of mantle source region and by fractionation and crystallization （immiscibility） under a high oxygen fugacity condition. Negative Eu anomalies of apatites were formed possibly due to acquisition of Eu^2＋ by earlier diopsite during ore magma cooling. The apatites in the Aoshan and Taishan iron deposits yield a narrow variation range of ^87Sr/^86Sr values from 0.7071 to 0.7073, similar to those of the volcanic and subvolcaulc rocks, indicating that apatites were formed by liquid immiscibility and differentiation of intermediate and basic magmas.

A Super-Large Rb-Nb Rare Metal Deposit has been Discovered in Huashi Village of Xinglong County, Hebei Province

Objective The Huashi Village in Xinglong County of Hebei Province is located in the Yanshan subsidence zone in the central eastern North China Plate, which is 137 km away from Beijing City （Fig. la）. This area has undergone large -scale magmatic intrusion affected by the tectonic compression of the Pacific Plate in the Mesozoic （known as the Yanshanian movement） to form many alkaline rocks such as the Wulingshan rock mass. Previous studies have conducted petrological research and reconnaissance survey of rare metal ores in this area （Tian Shuzhang and Guo Zongshan, 1981; Xu Baoling et al., 1996）. In 2016, the Qinhuangdao Mineral and Hydrology Engineering Geological Brigade of Hebei Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration implemented the project of Reconnaissance of Rare Metal Ores Including Rubidium in Huashi Village of Xinglong County, Hebei Province, and discovered super-large rare metal deposits of rubidium and biobium in the Madi alkali feldspar granite bodies in the Huashi Village to achieve great breakthrough of rare metal ore prospecting.

Beneficiation Studies of a Rare Earth Ore from the Olserum Deposit

The Olserum deposit located in Sweden hosts an indicated mineral resource of 4.5 million tonnes at 0.6% total rare earth oxides (TREO), exhibiting a relatively high proportion of heavy rare earth elements (HREE). The mineralogy and beneficiation of a composite drill core sample from the Olserum deposit were studied. Monazite and xenotime were found by the mineralogical analyses to be the target minerals for beneficiation of REEs and most (96.9%) of REEs in the ore are carried by monazite (68.5%) and xenotime (28.4%). Because xenotime carries 84.7% of heavy REEs (Y, Gd, Dy) in the ore it is more valuable mineral than monazite. A beneficiation process was developed which includes grinding, wet low intensity magnetic separation (WLIMS) for removal of magnetite and REEs flotation consisting of one stage of roughing and two stages of cleaning. Selective flotation collector of REE minerals and suitable grinding size of feed material were determined by testwork. The REE concentrate and tailings were chemically and mineralogically characterized. The studies of process mineralogy showed that the REE-bearing minerals, monazite and xenotime, and apatite were successfully enriched from the concentrations of 0.6%, 0.31% and 2.6% in the feed to those of 17.0%, 8.9% and 65.0% in the concentrate with the recoveries of 79.0%, 81.3% and 71.0%, respectively.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements in Aktishikan Gold Deposit,Xinjiang

The characteristics and the models of rare earth elements in the geological bodies and the hydrothermal water balanced with the adamellite were comprehensively studied in Aktishikan gold deposit,Nurt area of Altay,Xinjiang.And the behavior of rare earth elements during metasomatic alteration was discussed by using the isocon method of Grant.The results show that the rare earth elements are inert during metasomatic alteration,the hydrothermal water has no relation to the magmatic water,and the gold material sources mainly stem from the wall rock.