『Abstract
Trace element and isotopic compositions of carbonate from ore
bodies, country rock which hosts the ore bodies (H8 dolomite),
a carbonatite dyke exposed in Dulahala near Bayan Obo, and rare
earth element (REE)-rich dolomite in Bayan Obo have been determined
to understand the genesis of the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE ore deposit,
the world's largest resource of REE. The REE and trace element
distribution patterns of samples from the REE-rich carbonatite
dykes are identical to those of mineralized carbonate rocks, indicating
a genetic linkage between the REE-rich carbonatite and mineralization
in this region. By contrast, carbon and oxygen isotopes in the
mineralized carbonate varied significantly, δ13C =
-7.98‰ to -1.12‰, δ18O = 8.60-25.69‰, which are distinctively
different from those in mantle-derived carbonatite. abnormal isotopic
fractionations between dolomite and calcite suggest that these
two minerals are in disequilibrium in the carbonatite dyke, ore
bodies, and H8 marble from Bayan Obo. This isotopic characteristic
is also found in mineralized sedimentary marine micrite from Heinaobao,
〜25 km southeast of the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE ore deposit. These
facts imply that the carbonate minerals in the Bayan Obo deposit
have resulted from sedimentary carbonate rocks being metasomatised
by mantle-derived fluids, likely derived from a REE-enriched carbonatitic
magma. The initial Nd isotope values of ore bodies and carbonatite
dykes are identical, indicating that ore bodies, carbonatite dykes
and veins may have a similar REE source.』
1. Introduction
2. Geological setting and sampling
2.1. Regional geology and sampling
2.2. Age of Bayan Obo REE deposits
3. Analytical procedures
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Trace elements and REE geochemistry
4.2. Carbon and oxygen isotopes
4.2.1. Micrite
4.2.2. Carbonate rocks in the Bayan Obo ore deposits
4.3. Models of ore genesis at Bayan Obo
4.3.1. Previous genetic models
4.3.2. A new model based on metasomatism
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References