Publication detail

Origin of heavy rare earth mineralization in South China

XU, C. KYNICKÝ, J. SMITH, M. KOPŘIVA, A. BRTNICKÝ, M. YANG, Y. URUBEK, T. ZHAO, Z. HE, C. SONG, W.

Original Title

Origin of heavy rare earth mineralization in South China

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Heavy rare earth elements (HREE) are dominantly mined from the weathering crusts of granites in South China. Although weathering processes occur globally, no economic HREE resources of this type have yet been found outside China. Here, we report the occurrence of unidentified REE minerals in the granites from South Chinese deposits. They contain high levels of both HREE and light REE, but are strongly depleted in Ce, implying high oxidation state. These REE minerals show higher initial Nd isotope than primary REE-rich minerals (eNd(t) = 0.9 +/- 0.8 versus -11.5 +/- 0.5). The mineralized weathering crusts inherited REE signature of the granites, but show more Ce depletion and more overall concentration of the REE. We propose, therefore, that highly oxidized, REE-rich fluids, derived from external, isotopically depleted sources, metasomatized the granites, which resulted in Ce depletion as Ce4+ and enrichment of the remaining REE, especially the HREE, contributing to formation of a globally important REE resource.

Keywords

Heavy rare earth elements (HREE); REE minerals; granites

Authors

XU, C.; KYNICKÝ, J.; SMITH, M.; KOPŘIVA, A.; BRTNICKÝ, M.; YANG, Y.; URUBEK, T.; ZHAO, Z.; HE, C.; SONG, W.

Released

21. 2. 2017

ISBN

2041-1723

Periodical

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Year of study

8

Number

14598

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages from

1

Pages to

7

Pages count

7

BibTex

@article{BUT142030,
  author="Cheng {Xu} and Jindřich {Kynický} and Martin P. {Smith} and Antonín {Kopřiva} and Martin {Brtnický} and Yueheng {Yang} and Tomáš {Urubek} and Zheng {Zhao} and Chen {He} and Wenlei {Song}",
  title="Origin of heavy rare earth mineralization in South China",
  journal="NATURE COMMUNICATIONS",
  year="2017",
  volume="8",
  number="14598",
  pages="1--7",
  doi="10.1038/ncomms14598",
  issn="2041-1723"
}