Rare Earth Mineralization in Igneous Rocks: Sources and Processes

Chakhmouradian, Anton R.; Zaitsev, Anatoly N.

doi:10.2113/gselements.8.5.347

Cited by 222 publications

(112 citation statements)

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“…The high abundances of halogens indicate the presence of amphibole or phlogopite in the mantle source. Chakhmouradin and Zaitsev [4] infer that the bulk of the REE in the source was either in amphibole or in accessory minerals.…”

Section: Origin Of Alkaline Rocks and Ree Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They include bastnäsite, monazite, xenotime, synchysite, loparite, eudialyte and parasite (Table 1). Overall, the bulk of resources is mostly associated with three REE-rich minerals: bastnäsite, monazite and xenotime (e.g., [3,4]). Bastnäsite and monazite are dominated by LREE whereas xenotime is the main source of HREE and Y ( Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rare Earth Element Deposits of Alkaline Igneous Rocks

Dostál

2017

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164

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Alkaline igneous complexes host deposits of rare earth elements (REE), which represent one of the most economically important resources of heavy REE and Yttrium (Y). The hosts are differentiated rocks ranging from nepheline syenites and trachytes to peralkaline granites. These complexes usually occur in continental within-plate tectonic settings associated with rifts, faults, or hotspot magmatism. The REE mineralization is found in layered alkaline complexes, granitic stocks, and late-stages dikes and rarely trachytic volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits. The bulk of REE is present in accessory minerals, which can reach percentage levels in mineralized zones. The mineralization contains various REE-bearing minerals that can display complex replacement textures. Main REE minerals present in these deposits are bastnäsite, eudialyte, loparite, gittinsite, xenotime, monazite, zircon, and fergusonite. The parent magmas of alkaline igneous complexes are derived from partial melts of mantle sources. Protracted fractional crystallization of the magma led to an enrichment in REE, particularly in the late stages of magma evolution. The primary magmatic mineralization is commonly overprinted (remobilized and enriched) by late magmatic to hydrothermal fluids. Elevated abundances of U and Th in the deposits make a gamma-ray (radiometric) survey an important exploration tool, but also represent a significant environmental challenge for exploitation.

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Section: Origin Of Alkaline Rocks and Ree Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare Earth Element Deposits of Alkaline Igneous Rocks

Dostál

2017

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164

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“…96 Page 2 of 18 carbonatite emplacement that REE concentrations become high enough to form significant, sometimes rock-forming, quantities of rare earth minerals (e.g., Wall and Zaitsev 2004;Chakhmouradian and Zaitsev 2012). Initial REE mineralisation takes place near the magmatic-hydrothermal interface.…”

Section: Electronic Supplementary Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deducing the source and composition of rare earth mineralising fluids in carbonatites: insights from isotopic (C, O, 87Sr/86Sr) data from Kangankunde, Malawi

Broom-Fendley

Wall

Spiro

et al. 2017

Contrib Mineral Petrol

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“…Many REE deposits associated with igneous rocks are found in extensional settings where thinning of the crust allows for melting of upper mantle magmas [206]. Several studies have attributed changes in the chemistry and source of the magmas to the tectonic transition between Eocene-early Oligocene subduction (Laramide, 36-75 Ma) and mid-Tertiary extension (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) [124,199,200] that was triggered by changes in the subducting Farallon plate.…”

Section: Origin Of Gpm Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare Earth Elements (REE) Deposits Associated with Great Plain Margin Deposits (Alkaline-Related), Southwestern United States and Eastern Mexico

McLemore

2018

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W.G. Lindgren in 1933 first noted that a belt of alkaline-igneous rocks extends along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and Basin and Range provinces from Alaska and British Columbia southward into New Mexico, Trans-Pecos Texas, and eastern Mexico and that these rocks contain relatively large quantities of important commodities such as, gold, fluorine, zirconium, rare earth elements (REE), tellurium, gallium, and other critical elements. In New Mexico, these deposits were called Great Plain Margin (GPM) deposits, because this north-south belt of alkaline-igneous rocks roughly coincides with crustal thickening along the margin between the Great Plains physiographic province with the Basin and Range (including the Rio Grande rift) and Rocky Mountains physiographic provinces, which extends into Trans-Pecos Texas and eastern Mexico. Since 1996, only minor exploration and development of these deposits in New Mexico, Texas, and eastern Mexico has occurred because of low commodity prices, permitting issues, and environmental concerns. However, as the current demand for gold and critical elements, such as REE and tellurium has increased, new exploration programs have encouraged additional research on the geology of these deposits. The lack of abundant quartz in these systems results in these deposits being less resistant to erosion, being covered, and not as well exposed as other types of quartz-rich deposits, therefore additional undiscovered alkaline-related gold and REE deposits are likely in these areas. Deposits of Th-REE-fluorite (±U, Nb) epithermal veins and breccias are found in the several GPM districts, but typically do not contain significant gold, although trace amounts of gold are found in most GPM districts. Gold-rich deposits in these districts tend to have moderate to low REE and anomalously high tungsten and sporadic amounts of tellurium. Carbonatites are only found in New Mexico and Mexico. The diversity of igneous rocks, including alkaline-igneous rocks, and associated mineral deposits along this boundary suggests that this region is characterized by highly fractionated and differentiated, multiple pulses of mantle-derived magmas evolving to lower crustal magmas related to the subduction of the Farallon plate. The differences in incompatible trace elements, including REE and beryllium, between the different granitic to rhyolite rocks are likely related to either differences in the crustal rocks that were assimilated during magmatic differentiation or by potential minor contamination from crustal sources and/or magma mixing. Deep-seated fracture systems or crustal lineaments apparently channeled the magmas and hydrothermal fluids. Once magmas and metal-rich fluids reached shallow levels, the distribution and style of these intrusions, as well as the resulting associated mineral deposits were controlled by local structures and associated igneous rock compositions.

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Rare Earth Mineralization in Igneous Rocks: Sources and Processes

Cited by 222 publications

References 32 publications

Rare Earth Element Deposits of Alkaline Igneous Rocks

Rare Earth Element Deposits of Alkaline Igneous Rocks

Deducing the source and composition of rare earth mineralising fluids in carbonatites: insights from isotopic (C, O, 87Sr/86Sr) data from Kangankunde, Malawi

Rare Earth Elements (REE) Deposits Associated with Great Plain Margin Deposits (Alkaline-Related), Southwestern United States and Eastern Mexico

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