Abstract
AbstractThe Bayan Obo Fe‐REE‐Nb deposit is the world’s largest rare earth element (REE) resource and its genesis has been the subject of much debate for many years. The most popular are the carbonatite‐related and hydrothermal Fe oxide‐Cu‐Au‐(REE‐U) genetic models. Comparisons of geologic setting, lithology, mineral assemblages, metal associations, geochemistry (particularly REE and light REE/heavy REE ratios), fluid chemistry and isotopics indicate that the Bayan Obo deposit shares features of both types, which are classified differently; that is, the carbonatites model is host‐rock based, while the Fe oxide‐Cu‐Au‐(REE‐U) model is essentially mineral assemblage and metal association based. A speculative classification scheme is tentatively put forward to link the two models, but many questions remain for further studies.
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