Abstract
Alkaline igneous complexes host deposits of rare earth elements (REE), which represent one of the most economically important resources of heavy REE and Yttrium (Y). The hosts are differentiated rocks ranging from nepheline syenites and trachytes to peralkaline granites. These complexes usually occur in continental within-plate tectonic settings associated with rifts, faults, or hotspot magmatism. The REE mineralization is found in layered alkaline complexes, granitic stocks, and late-stages dikes and rarely trachytic volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits. The bulk of REE is present in accessory minerals, which can reach percentage levels in mineralized zones. The mineralization contains various REE-bearing minerals that can display complex replacement textures. Main REE minerals present in these deposits are bastnäsite, eudialyte, loparite, gittinsite, xenotime, monazite, zircon, and fergusonite. The parent magmas of alkaline igneous complexes are derived from partial melts of mantle sources. Protracted fractional crystallization of the magma led to an enrichment in REE, particularly in the late stages of magma evolution. The primary magmatic mineralization is commonly overprinted (remobilized and enriched) by late magmatic to hydrothermal fluids. Elevated abundances of U and Th in the deposits make a gamma-ray (radiometric) survey an important exploration tool, but also represent a significant environmental challenge for exploitation.
Highlights
Alkaline igneous rocks host deposits of a variety of rare metals and industrial rocks and minerals.The commodities of special economic importance in these rocks are rare earth elements (REE)
They are frequently subdivided into light rare earth elements (LREE) with lower atomic weight i.e., spanning from lanthanum through to europium and the heavy rare earth elements (HREE)
This paper focuses on REE deposits associated with alkaline igneous rocks
Summary
Alkaline igneous rocks host deposits of a variety of rare metals and industrial rocks and minerals. The commodities of special economic importance in these rocks are rare earth elements (REE). They are frequently subdivided into light rare earth elements (LREE) with lower atomic weight i.e., spanning from lanthanum through to europium and the heavy rare earth elements (HREE). This paper focuses on REE deposits associated with alkaline igneous rocks It reviews and discusses their characteristics and classification, describes examples of the major types of the deposits and comments on their origin and exploration methods. These REE deposits have attracted a great deal of interest in the exploration industry as well as in the geological literature (e.g., [3,4,5,6]) They represent one of the most economically important resources of HREE and Y. Their genesis is still under debate (e.g., [3,6,7])
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