REE Enrichment during Magmatic–Hydrothermal Processes in Carbonatite-Related REE Deposits: A Case Study of the Weishan REE Deposit, China

oleh: Yu-heng Jia, Yan Liu

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-12-01

Deskripsi

The Weishan carbonatite-related rare earth element (REE) deposit in China contains both high- and low-grade REE mineralization and is an informative case study for the investigation of magmatic&#8722;hydrothermal REE enrichment processes in such deposits. The main REE-bearing mineral is bastn&#228;site, with lesser parisite and monazite. REE mineralization occurred at a late stage of hydrothermal evolution and was followed by a sulfide stage. Barite, calcite, and strontianite appear homogeneous in back-scattered electron images and have high REE contents of 103&#8722;217, 146&#8722;13,120, and 194&#8722;16,412 ppm in their mineral lattices, respectively. Two enrichment processes were necessary for the formation of the Weishan deposit: Production of mineralized carbonatite and subsequent enrichment by magmatic&#8722;hydrothermal processes. The geological setting and petrographic characteristics of the Weishan deposit indicate that two main factors facilitated REE enrichment: (1) fractures that facilitated circulation of ore-forming fluids and provided space for REE precipitation and (2) high ore fluorite and barite contents resulting in high F<sup>&#8722;</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2&#8722;</sup> concentrations in the ore-forming fluids that promoted REE transport and deposition.