Occurrence and geochemistry of bastnäsite in carbonatite-related REE deposits, Mianning–Dechang REE belt, Sichuan Province, SW China

Abstract

Bastnäsite is the main ore mineral in many carbonatite-related rare earth element (REE) deposits, which account for ∼51% of rare-earth oxide reserves worldwide. However, the occurrence, geochemistry, and genetic significance of bastnäsite has not been methodically investigated. The Cenozoic Mianning–Dechang (MD) REE belt in Sichuan Province, SW China, contains the Maoniuping, Dalucao, Lizhuang, and Muluozhai deposits as well as numerous smaller REE occurrences. Individual deposits within the belt contain different types of bastnäsite-bearing ore, which provides a unique opportunity to explore in detail the common mechanisms controlling the formation of bastnäsite-rich REE deposits.Here, we present detailed results from field observations and petrographic, geochemical, and fluid inclusion studies of bastnäsite from the main MD deposits. Calcite, fluorite, and barite form stable mineral assemblages that are commonly overprinted by bastnäsite. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in bastnäsite of ∼150–270 °C (Dalucao and Lizhuang deposits) and 155–210 °C (Maoniuping deposit) are systematically lower than those of fluid inclusions in gangue minerals. Therefore, the petrographic studies and homogenization temperatures both show that large-scale crystallization of bastnäsite took place during the later stage of the hydrothermal system. The bastnäsite, relatively geochemically homogeneous within all of the MD deposits, is enriched in Ba (293–8425 ppm), Th (16.4–2527 ppm), and U (4.19–92.7 ppm), and relatively depleted in high field strength elements such as Nb (0.15–17.4 ppm), Ta (0.06–6.48 ppm), Zr (0.71–31.1 ppm), Hf (0.62–5.65 ppm), and Ti (<60 ppm), the same to carbonatite, and ore veins. In comparison, the samples from the study area show an increase in average REE contents from syenites to carbonatites to ore veins (i.e., bastnäsite-bearing ores) and finally to bastnäsite. Lanthanum and Ce were commonly substituted by Th, U, Sc, Ba, and Sr supplied by more evolved hydrothermal fluids.Combining the present results with existing data, we present a three-stage model for the formation of carbonatite-related REE deposits. First, partial melting of metasomatized sub-continental lithospheric mantle, fluxed by REE- and CO2-rich fluids, forms the parental carbonatite–syenite magma. Second, Sr, Ba, and REEs are strongly partitioned into carbonatite melts during liquid immiscibility in the carbonatite–syenite magmatic system. Third, hydrothermal fluids exsolved from the crystalizing syenite and carbonatite magmas form ore veins with early gangue minerals and later bastnäsite overgrowths. Consequently, barite, calcite, and fluorite assemblages are a valuable guide in REE exploration.