The distribution coefficients of rare earth elements (REEs; all lanthanides except Pm, Y and Sc) between Fe oxyhydroxide precipitates and 0.5 M NaCl solutions with NaHCO 3 (0.0~12.0 mM) at 25°C and 1 bar have been determined. This experimental system is a simple model for REE partitioning between deep-sea ferromanganese nodules and seawater. The distribution coefficients, K d (REE: precipitate/solution), show systematic variations with increasing NaHCO 3 concentrations. We have determined REE(III)-carbonate complexation constants from the experimental distribution coefficients as a function of NaHCO 3 concentration and pH. The REE(III)-carbonate complexation constants show almost the same series variations as reported values obtained by the solvent-extraction method, although our results by the precipitation method are rather higher by 1.0~1.5 in log unit than the literature data at zero ionic strength. amine how REE(III)-carbonate complexation affects the REE partitioning process in seawater. Kawabe et al. (1999a, b) reported preliminary experimental results of REE partitioning between Fe oxyhydroxide precipitates and NaCl solutions with and without carbonate ions. They emphasized that the lanthanide tetrad effect is associated with the distribution coefficients of REEs between Fe oxyhydroxide precipitates and NaCl solutions. They analyzed their experimental results using the refined spin-pairing energy theory, RSPET, (Jørgensen, 1979;Kawabe, 1992). Although Kawabe et al. (1999b) estimated the complexation constants for REE(CO 3 ) 2 -from their experimental results, they could not estimate those for REECO 3 + from the preliminary data. REE(III)-carbonate complexation constants have been reported by Byrne and co-workers (Cantrell and