REE and C-O Isotopic Geochemistry of Calcites from the World-class Huize Pb-Zn Deposits,Yunnan,China:Implications for the Ore Genesis

The world-class Huize Pb-Zn deposits of Yunnan province,in southwestern China,located in the center of the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn polymetallic metallogenic province,has Pb＋Zn reserves of more than 5 million tons at Pb＋Zn grade of higher than 25%and contains abundant associated metals,such as Ag,Ge,Cd,and Ga.The deposits are hosted in the Lower Carboniferous carbonate strata and the Permian Emeishan basalts which distributed in the northern and southwestern parts of the orefield.Calcite is the only gangue mineral in the primary ores of the deposits and can be classified into three types,namely lumpy,patch and vein calcites in accordance with their occurrence.There is not intercalated contact between calcite and ore minerals and among the three types of calcite,indicating that they are the same ore-forming age with different stages and its forming sequence is from lumpy to patch to vein calcites. This paper presents the rare earth element（REE） and C-O isotopic compositions of calcites in the Huize Pb-Zn deposits.From lumpy to patch to vein calcites,REE contents decrease as LREE/ HREE ratios increase.The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the three types of calcites are characterized by LREE-rich shaped,in which the lumpy calcite shows（La）_N〈（Ce）_N〈（Pr）_N≈（Nd）_N with Eu/Eu~＊〈1,the patch calcite has（La）_N〈（Ce）_N〈（Pr）_N≈（Nd）_N with Eu/Eu~＊〉1,and the vein calcite displays（La）_N〉（Ce）_N〉（Pr）_N〉（Nd）_N with Eu/Eu~＊〉1.The REE geochemistry of the three types of calcite is different from those of the strata of various age and Permian Emeishan basalt exposed in the orefield.Theδ^（13） C_（PDb） andδ^（18）O_（Smow） values of the three types of calcites vary from-3.5‰to-2.1‰and 16.7‰to 18.6‰,respectively,falling within a small field between primary mantle and marine carbonate in theδ^（13）C_（PDb） vsδ^（18）O_（Smow） diagram. Various lines of evidence demonstrate that the three types of calcites in the deposits are produced from the same source with different stages.The ore-forming fluids of the deposits resulted from crustal -mantle mixing processes,in which the mantle-derived fluid components might be formed from degassing of mantle or/and magmatism of the Permian Emeishan basalts,and the crustal fluid was mainly provided by carbonate strata in the orefield.The ore-forming fluids in the deposits were homogenized before mineralization,and the ore-forming environment varied from relatively reducing to oxidizing.

Geochemical Behaviors of REE and Other Trace Elements during the Formation of Strata-bound Skarns and Related Deposits:A Case Study of the Dongguashan Cu(Au)Deposit,Anhui Province,China

REE and other trace elements in the altered marbles, massive skarns and ores, as well as garnet and quartz were determined in order to examine the behaviors of trace elements during hydrothermal alteration. It is demonstrated that the high-field-strength (HFS) elements Zr, Hf, Th and Nb were immobile while other trace elements were mobile during the formation of skarns and related deposits. REE and ore-forming elements such as Cu and Ag in hydrothermally-altered marbles and skarns were provided primarily by hydrothermal fluids. In the direction transverse of the strata, the more deeply the marbles were altered, the higher the total REE abundance and the larger the negative Eu anomalies would be. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of skarns are similar to those of the marbles, but the former are distinguished by much higher REE contents and more remarkable negative Eu anomalies. Those patterns were apparently not inherited from the marble protolith, but were controlled by garnets, which were determined by the hydrothermal solutions involved in the infiltration metasomatism. The hydrothermal fluids are characterized by having slightly right-hand dipping REE patterns, being enriched in LREE and having strongly negative Eu anomalies. The uptake of REE from hydrothermal fluids during the growth of garnet crystals resulted in the garnets having similar REE patterns to the hydrothermal fluids. Based on the spatial variation of REE in skarns and the structures of the hosting strata, we can get a better understanding of the transport path and pattern of the fluids involved in the formation of skarns and their related deposits. REE geochemistry investigation can help elucidate the genesis of skarns and skarn-related deposits.

Rare earth elements(REE)and isotope composition(δ^(13)C andδ^(18)O)of manganese ores of Chiatura deposit(Georgia):features of ore formation and genesis

The rare earth elements(REE)geochemistry and the isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)composition of manganese ores of the Chiatura(Georgia)deposit were studied.One of the major features of all types of manganese ores is negative cerium(Ce/Ce*_(PAAS))anomaly and the absence of europium(Eu/Eu*_(PAAS))anomaly.Oxide oolitic manganese ores were formed in oxic shallow marine environments.The content and distribution of REEs(in particular Ce and Eu)in these ores are connected mainly with ferrous oxides.The performed C-and O-isotope research in Mn-carbonates(oolitic and massive)has indicated that carbonate ores were formed by the participation of isotopic ally light CO_(2)which is a result of the oxidation of organic matter in the sediment strata by reducing environments of early diagenesis(and,partially,catagenesis)zone.Obtained negative cerium anomalies in the studied carbonate ores reflect the specific REE patterns in pore waters of sediments of earlier isdiagenesis zone of the Oligocene Chiatura's basin.The deficiency of cerium in this zone remains debatable and requires further study.Formation of manganese carbonates took place multistage by the input of incisional solutions of different chemistry into sea bottom waters and sediments.The absence of europium anomaly indicates about lack of hydrothermal solution input.

REE/trace element characteristics of sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin

The major elements, trace elements and REEs were analyzed on the samples collected from the sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin to constrain the mechanism of uranium enrichment. The total REE amount ranges from 36.7 to 701.8 μg/g and the REE distribution patterns of the sandstone-type uranium samples are characterized by LREE enrichment and high REE depletion. The results also indicated a high Y abundance and Eu anomalies between 0.77-1.81. High-precision ICP-MS results showed that U abundances are within the range of 0.73-150 μg/g, showing some strong correlation between U enrichment and related elements such as Ti, V, Zr, Mo, and Au. In addition, Th abundance is correlated with ΣREE.

Geochemical studies on REE and trace elements from several Cu-Au deposits along the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley, central-southern Anhui Province

The Yangtze Valley was one of the most important metallogenic regions during the Jurassic-Cretaceous period in East China, where more than 200 polymetallic Cu-Fe-Au, Mo, Zn, Pb, Ag deposits have been found. Trace elements were chemically analyzed and the relevant data were collected from literature for the Yanshanian (Mesozoic) igneous rocks which have close relationship with Cu-Au mineralization. Copper mineralization in the lower Yangtze Valley can be divided into three major types: skarn type, porphyry type and volcanic type. The porphyry type is of rare occurrence, such as the Shaxi porphyry copper deposit in the northern part of the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley. This paper focuses on the REE and trace element geochemistry of several Cu-Au deposits along the lower part of Yangtze metallogenic valley in Anhui. The results showed that there are differences in REE distribution for these four types of Cu-Au mineralization, which confine the sources of REE and trace elements as well as other mantle and transitional compatible elements. The results of both REE and trace element geochemical studies showed that these elements with different characteristics have different origins, probably representing different sources of Cu-Au deposits in the deep crust and upper mantle environments. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of one biotite sample gave an age of 131 Ma with a high level of confidence, which represents the age of formation of the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive with porphrytic Cu-Au mineralization, which is consistent with that of the majority of the adjacent acid intrusives with mass Cu-Au mineralization along the Yangtze metallogenic belt in the Yanshanian period (Mesozoic). This is the first attempt to use the high precision method to date the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive.

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.

蒙古阿尔泰哈勒赞布勒格泰碱性岩有关的Zr-Nb-Ta-REE矿床地质特征、地球化学与成因初探

哈勒赞布勒格泰稀有稀土矿床产出于蒙古国阿尔泰地区,是一处与碱性杂岩体有关的超大型Zr-Nb-Ta-REE矿床。该杂岩体具有多期次侵位和多岩相的特征,主要由含钠铁闪石和霓石的碱长正长岩、英碱正长岩、碱长花岗岩、蚀变碱长花岗岩和碱长花岗伟晶岩等组成,并被碱性辉长岩和辉绿岩侵入。其中,蚀变碱长花岗岩发生了全岩Zr、Nb、Ta和REE矿化,并具有广泛的热液交代特征。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年显示,该杂岩体中的长英质碱性岩和基性碱性岩具有相似的侵位年龄,均为~400Ma,侵入于~463Ma的黑云母正长花岗岩中。主微量元素地球化学研究显示,该杂岩体具有强过碱性的特征。岩浆演化主要受到碱性长石分异的控制,使硅逐渐聚集于晚期粒间熔体之中,并逐渐演化为英碱正长岩和碱长花岗岩。这个过程使岩浆的过碱性特征不断加强,也使钠铁闪石和霓石逐渐富集。杂岩体的岩浆演化经历了一定程度的锆石、富集稀土的磷灰石、独居石和磷钇矿以及富集Nb的异性石的分异,使Zr、Nb、Ta和REE等成矿元素在岩浆的演化过程中没有得到显著的富集,因此岩浆的演化并非是该杂岩体中稀有稀土元素发生矿化的关键因素。在蚀变碱长花岗岩的石英、碱性长石和钠铁闪石中,普遍发育顺着晶格生长的“雪球状”钠长石,是碱性花岗质共结岩浆演化晚期流体发生周期性饱和并释放,造成Ab周期性过饱和而沉淀的结果。流体的周期性过饱和及释放萃取成矿元素并汇聚于蚀变碱长花岗岩,造成其Zr、Nb、Ta和REE等元素与硅含量相似但未发生蚀变的碱长花岗岩相比富集了近10倍,因此这是发生矿化的根本原因。

Existing forms of REE in gold-bearing pyrite of the Jinshan gold deposit,Jiangxi Province,China

Rare earth element(REE) is widely used in various fields of geology.Study of the existing forms of REE in geological objects is a necessity for us to solve geological problems related with REE.This paper tried to make it clear the existing forms of REE in gold-bearing pyrite in Jinshan gold deposit by stepwise dissolution test with ICP-MS analysis.Results showed that content of REE in fluid-inclusions of gold-bearing pyrite was very low,which only took about 0.07%–0.70% of the ΣREE,and that of pyrite phase ...

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.

REE Geochemistry of Fluorite from the Maoniuping REE Deposit,Sichuan Province,China:Implications for the Source of Ore-forming Fluids

Fluorite is one of the main gangue minerals in the Maoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, China. Fluorite with different colors occurs not only within various orebodies, but also in wallrocks of the orefield. Based on REE geochemistry, fluorite in the orefleld can be classified as the LREE-rich, LREE-flat and LREE-depleted types. The three types of fluorite formed at different stages from the same hydrothermal fluid source, with the LREE-rich fluorite forming at the relatively early stage, the LREE-flat fluorite in the middle, and the LREE-depleted fluorite at the latest stage. Various lines of evidence demonstrate that the variation of the REE contents of fluorite shows no relation to the color. The mineralization of the Maouiuping REE deposit is associated spatially and temporally with carbonatite-syenite magmatism and the ore-forming fluids are mainly derived from carbonatite and syenite melts.

Genesis for Rare Earth Elements Enrichment in the Permian Manganese Deposits in Zunyi, Guizhou Province, SW China

The Zunyi manganese deposits, which formed during the Middle to Late Permian period and are located in northern Guizhou and adjacent areas, are the core area of a series of large-medium scale manganese enrichment minerogenesis in the southern margin and interior of the Yangtze platform, Southern China. This study reports the universal enrichment of rare earth elements(REEs) in Zunyi manganese deposits and examines the enrichment characteristics, metallogenic environment and genesis of REEs. The manganese ore bodies present stratiform or stratoid in shape, hosted in the silicon–mud–limestones of the Late Permian Maokou Formation. The manganese ores generally present lamellar, massive, banded and brecciated structures, and mainly consist of rhodochrosite, ropperite, tetalite, capillitite, as well as contains paragenetic gangue minerals including pyrite, chalcopyrite, rutile, barite, tuffaceous clay rock, etc. The manganese ores have higher ΣREE contents range from 158 to 1138.9 ppm(average 509.54 ppm). In addition, the ΣREE contents of tuffaceous clay rock in ore beds vary from 1032.2 to 1824.5 ppm(average 1396.42 ppm). The REEs from manganese deposits are characterized by La, Ce, Nd and Y enriched, and existing in the form of independent minerals(e.g., monazite and xenotime), indicating Zunyi manganese deposits enriched in light rare earth elements(LREE). The Ceanom ratios(average-0.13) and lithofacies and paleogeography characteristics indicate that Zunyi manganese deposits were formed in a weak oxidation-reduction environment. The(La/Yb)ch, Y/Ho,(La/Nd)N,(Dy/Yb)N, Ce/Ce* and Eu/Eu* values of samples from the Zunyi manganese deposits are 5.53–56.92, 18–39, 1.42–3.15, 0.55–2.20, 0.21–1.76 and 0.48–0.86, respectively, indicating a hydrothermal origin for the manganese mineralization and REEs enrichment. The δ13 CV-PDB(-0.54 to-18.1‰) and δ18 OSMOW(21.6 to 26.0‰) characteristics of manganese ores reveal a mixed source of magmatic and organic matter. Moreover, the manganese ore, tuffaceous clay rock and Emeishan basalt have extremely similar REE fractionation characteristic, suggesting REEs enrichment and manganese mineralization have been mainly origin from hydrothermal fluids.

A New Type of REE Deposit Found in Clay Rock at the Top of the Permian Emeishan Basalt in the Yunnan-Guizhou Area

Objective A set of REE-rich clay rocks is formed at the top of the Emeishan basalt in the eastern Yunnan-Western Guizhou area,accompanied by Nb,Zr,Ga.It is a new type of REE deposit and has great resource potential.This paper introduces its metallogenic conditions and element occurrence states,discusses the genetic mechanism.

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.

REE geochemistry of gangue minerals and their geological significance in the Muli antimony ore deposit in Yunnan, China

The Muli antimony deposit is located in the Au-Sb polymetallic metallogenic belt in south-eastern Yunnan,China.In this paper,we investigated the concentrations of trace elements in gangue minerals,mainly calcite,quartz,and pyrite,which were formed at different metallogenic stages.Meanwhile,the host rocks,predominantly composed of limestone,are also analysed for comparison.The calcite from the Nadan ore section is enriched with medium-heavy rare earth elements(M-HREEs),likely due to the presence of a high concentration of Fe and Mn impurities,which results in the preferential enrichment of M-HREEs in the calcite.Alternatively,the calcite may be precipitated from the M-HREE・rich granitic leaching fluid.In the Muli ore section,both quartz and pyrite in the metallogenic period show enrichment with light rare earth elements(LREEs),and the wall rock is also enriched with LREEs,which indicates that the wall rock material was involved in the metallogenic process.The W-shaped tetrad effect of quartz in the late metallogenic stage was interpreted to determine extensive flu id-rock interactions in highly fractionated Si-rich systems.Fe and Mn impurities cause M-HREE to be preferentially enriched with calcite to some extent.Whether mineralization is related to granite deserves further study.Eu and Ce anomalies of different types of gangue minerals indicate that the temperature and the fO2 were constantly changing during mineralization,and the temperature of the main ore-stage was higher than 200°C in an oxidized state.The various REE patterns,LREE/HREE and(La/Yb)N values,reveal that there may be multi-sources and multi-stage hydrothermal activities in the Muli antimony deposit.The REE distribution patterns of minerals are likely interfered with by many internal and external factors.Studies on REE characteristics of calcite,quartz,pyrite and limestone in the Muli antimony deposit have greatly improved the understanding of ore-forming fluids.When we traced the origin and evolution of ore・forming fluids by means of mineral REE distribution patterns,in addition to the determination of inclusions of ore minerals related to mineralization and the in situ analysis methods performed by LA-ICP-MS,we should also com・bine the REE characteristics of various minerals or trace the ore-forming fluids with multiple methods.

Exploration and research progress on ion-adsorption type REE deposit in South China

Since 2011,certain advances have been made through the resource investigation,metallogenesis research,mining supervision and environmental protection of ion-adsorption type rare earth element (REE) deposit in South China.Firstly,some progress has been made in REE prospecting in Jiangxi,Guangdong,Guangxi and Yunnan.REE deposits are not only found within the weathering crusts of granites and felsic volcanic rocks,but also within the weathering crusts of epimetamorphic rocks and basic magmatic rocks.Secondly,the methods of exploration,delineating ore bodies and calculation of reserves have been improved,which intuitively reflect the thickness,REE composition and value of weathering crust.Thirdly,the relationship between REEs and weathering degree and the rule of distribution,migration and enrichment of REEs in the weathering profile was summarized through the analysis of big data,which can predict the metallogenetic horizon of REEs.Fourthly,a method for quick,accurate and dynamic investigation of the REE deposit has been established by using high resolution remote sensing technology.Finally,the relation between the production status of REE mines and water pollution has been revealed based on long-term hydrochemical monitoring data of rivers and wells in mines and surrounding areas.

Transportation of REE in the Ductile Shear Zone in Hetai Gold Deposit, Guangdong Province

The REE transportation in two sorts of mylonites of ductile shear zone, in Hetai gold deposit, Guangdong province was studied. The results show that there is REE compositional variation regularly in the ductile shear zone. When mica-quartz schist and migmatite are changing into mylonites or ultramylonites, i.e., along with intensifying deformation, the contents of each rare earth element and the total contents of the LREE, HREE and REE increase or decrease regularly, but the REE patterns of the rock are accordant. The isocon diagram of the tectonic rocks before and after deformation shows that the REE compositional variation of the mylonites or ultramylonites are very small, but there is a few REE moving in or out in the rock deformation. The reason of the REE compositional variation is that there are volume change and fluid flow in the rock deformation, and it leads to the LREE relative enrichment and HREE relative loss.

The role of carbonate-fluoride melt immiscibility in shallow REE deposit evolution

The Lugiin Gol nepheline syenite intrusion, Mongolia, hosts a range of carbonatite dikes mineralized in rare-earth elements(REE). Both carbonatites and nepheline syenite-fluorite-calcite veinlets are host to a previously unreported macroscale texture involving pseudo-graphic intergrowths of fluorite and calcite. The inclusions within calcite occur as either pure fluorite, with associated REE minerals within the surrounding calcite, or as mixed calcite-fluorite inclusions, with associated zirconosilicate minerals. Consideration of the nature of the texture, and the proportions of fluorite and calcite present(～29 and 71 mol%,respectively), indicates that these textures most likely formed either through the immiscible separation of carbonate and fluoride melts, or from cotectic crystallization of a carbonatefluoride melt. Laser ablation ICP-MS analyses show the pure fluorite inclusions to be depleted in REE relative to the calcite. A model is proposed, in which a carbonate-fluoride melt phase enriched in Zr and the REE, separated from a phonolitic melt, and then either unmixed or underwent cotectic crystallization to generate an REE-rich carbonate melt and an REE-poor fluoride phase. The separation of the fluoride phase(either solid or melt) may have contributed to the enrichment of the carbonate melt in REE, and ultimately its saturation with REE minerals. Previous data have suggested that carbonate melts separated from silicate melts are relatively depleted in the REE, and thus melt immiscibility cannot result in the formation of REE-enriched carbonatites. The observations presented here provide a mechanism by which this could occur, as under either model the textures imply initial separation of a mixed carbonate-fluoride melt from a silicate magma. The separation of an REEenriched carbonate-fluoride melt from phonolitic magma is a hitherto unrecognized mechanism for REE-enrichment in carbonatites, and may play an important role in the formation of shallow magmatic REE deposits.

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.

Re-interpretation of zircon date in a carbonatite dyke at the Bayan Obo giant REE-Fe-Nb deposit,China

Recent ce-valuation of the dating of the carbonatite dykes associated with the REE-Re-Nb giant deposit at Bayan Obo

Characteristics of rare-earth elements (REE),strontium and neodymium isotopes in hydrothermal fluorites from the Bailashui tin deposit in the Furong ore field,southern Hunan Province,China

In this paper the authors present the REE concentrations and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of fluorites from the Bailashui tin deposit of the Furong ore field,southern Hunan Province. The results showed that the total amount of REE in fluorites is usually low,ranging from 0.705 to 8.785 μg/g with the chondrite-normalized REE dis-tribution patterns similar to those of the Qitianling granites in the study area,characterized by LREE-enrichment patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The fluorites vary in Sr isotopic composition within the range of 0.7083-0.7091,the values are lower than those of the granites and higher than those of the host carbonate rocks in this area. The εNd(t) values of fluorites vary between -9.4 and +10.3,revealing that both the crust-and mantle-source materials were involved in the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids. Combined with previous studies on this ore deposit,the Bailashui tin deposit is temporally and spatially closely related with granitic magmatism in this area. The hydro-thermal fluorites are the product of fluid/rock interactions between granitic magmatic hydrothermal fluid and marine carbonate rocks. The REE and F in the ore-forming fluid were derived from the granites,whereas Sr in the ore-forming fluid came mainly from the granitic magmatic hydrothermal fluid and marine carbonate rocks,although variations in Sr isotopic composition cannot be explained by a simple mixture of these two end-members. Evidence demonstrated that the ore-forming fluids are of crustal-mantle mixing origin,but that the fluids were probably in-completely homogenized and this may be caused by inhomogeneous mixing of the fluids of different sources.