Enrichment and Release of Rare Earth Elements during Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks in Wujiang Catchments, Southwest China

Abstract

Thirteen weathering profiles of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, sillicalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for study on enrichment and release behavior of rare earth elements (REE) during weathering, and its impact on plant growth and riverine REE distribution in the catchments with methods of hierachical cluster analysis and mass balance calculation in order to set a basis for riverine material source research and agricultural production. The results show that the enrichment degree of REE in calcareous soils from the Wujiang catchments is much higher than that of limestone, yellow soil, upper continental crust (UCC), China soil (CS) and world soil (WS). The ability of enrichment and release of REE is partly controlled by distribution of REE in bedrocks, contents and adsorption ability of organic matters, clay minerals and Fe-oxides/hydroxides in weathering profiles. The REE released from weathering of carbonate rocks and clastic rocks can be absorbed and utilized by local plants. The results also reveal that release of REE and Fe mainly from weathering of carbonate rocks and partly from clastic rocks exerts an important control on riverine REE distribution.