含铀副矿物的热液蚀变：来自华南鹿井矿田碎裂蚀变岩型铀矿床的矿物学研究

花岗岩型铀矿中铀的来源问题,长期以来是铀矿床学研究的热点问题之一。大多数学者认为其成矿物质主要来源于花岗岩本身的含铀副矿物,然而对于含铀副矿物热液蚀变行为研究较少。鹿井铀矿田位于诸广山复式岩体的中部,是华南最主要花岗岩型铀矿田之一,碎裂蚀变岩型铀矿化在该矿田内占主导地位。小山铀矿床位于鹿井矿田中部,是近些年新发现的碎裂蚀变岩型矿床。本文以钻孔ZK1-1为研究对象,对热液蚀变带开展了精细矿物学研究。研究表明：蚀变带中发育有晶质铀矿、铀石—钍石、独居石、磷钇矿、锆石、磷灰石、金红石等含铀副矿物。晶质铀矿、铀石—钍石中铀含量高,热液蚀变条件不稳定,铀容易释放;独居石蚀变为直氟碳钙铈矿和磷钇矿蚀变为次生磷灰石过程中容易释放出铀;锆石因结构稳定,铀难以释放;磷灰石、金红石中铀含量较低,供铀能力差。综合分析认为花岗岩中晶质铀矿、铀石—钍石是主要铀源矿物,独居石、磷钇矿为次要铀源矿物。     

粤北棉花坑铀矿床蚀变花岗岩副矿物特征研究

采用电子探针等测试方法,对采自棉花坑铀矿床特富矿体蚀变花岗岩中的副矿物,特别是富铀副矿物进行研究。蚀变花岗岩中的副矿物有锆石、直氟碳钙铈矿、铀石-钍石、磷灰石、磷钇矿、褐帘石等,其中主要富铀副矿物有铀石-钍石、磷钇矿、独居石。研究表明,热液作用能使副矿物的晶体结构和成分发生改变,甚至形成新的矿物,同时使富铀副矿物释放大量的铀进入成矿流体,如磷钇矿蚀变为磷灰石、铀钍石蚀变为铅钍石、独居石可蚀变为直氟碳钙铈矿等;磷灰石、锆石、褐帘石等副矿物铀含量较低,而且在蚀变过程中,它们保持相对稳定,且晶形完好,释放的铀量少;部分蚀变锆石出现相反情况,其铀含量不降反升。研究还表明,富铀副矿物受热液作用越强,即距热液活动中心越近,铀含量的降低越明显,释放的铀就越多,从而为铀矿床的形成提供了丰富的铀源。     

小秦岭西段稀土矿特征及找矿远景浅析

小秦岭西段是重要的稀土元素成矿地段。受华阳川断裂、金堆城-青岗坪断裂和太古代变质基底等因素的控制产出了区内碳酸岩型和伟晶岩型2类稀土矿化。碳酸岩型稀土矿含矿主岩为各类碳酸岩脉,以小河断裂为界,南北含矿碳酸岩在矿物组合上具有差别明显,含稀土矿物主要为磷钇矿、独居石和氟碳铈镧矿,稀土元素以轻稀土为主,但重稀土相对偏高,并具有以华阳川为中心向外围逐渐富集重稀土的特点。伟晶岩型稀土矿含矿主岩为含褐帘石伟晶岩,含稀土矿物为褐帘石,稀土元素以轻稀土为主。2类稀土矿化在形成时间上存在较大差异,碳酸岩型稀土矿化形成于印支期,伟晶岩型稀土矿化形成于古元古代晚期。区内已发现了众多的稀土矿床(点),成矿远景较好,特别是碳酸岩型稀土矿床(点)及碳酸岩脉带展布地段具有较大的找矿潜力。     

桂东北豆乍山产铀花岗岩的铀源矿物研究

豆乍山花岗岩是桂东北重要的产铀花岗岩之一,通过精细矿物学研究,豆乍山花岗岩中绿泥石主要为铁绿泥石和辉绿泥石,而含铀副矿物的蚀变和形成温度相对较高的铁绿泥石密切相关.花岗岩中主要富铀副矿物为晶质铀矿、锆石、独居石、磷钇矿和铀钍石,其中晶质铀矿是公认铀源矿物,而其他副矿物的赋存状态及蚀变特征决定了其是否为铀源矿物.锆石多未发生蚀变,U仍保持其结构中,因此不是铀源矿物;而铁绿泥石附近的独居石和磷钇矿均发生不同程度的蚀变,蚀变作用不仅使独居石和磷钇矿结构中的U 得以释放进入热液,而且原磷钇矿包裹的铀钍石变为赋存于次生磷灰石中,其所含铀容易活化而成为铀源矿物.总之,在豆乍山产铀花岗岩含铀副矿物中,晶质铀矿、蚀变的独居石和磷钇矿、次生磷灰石中铀钍石是铀源矿物.     

江西相山铀矿田铀矿物稀土元素特征及富集机制探讨

铀矿物是铀矿床勘探与选冶的重要研究对象。相山铀矿田是我国最大的火山岩型铀-多金属矿田,主要发育有早期碱交代和晚期酸交代两期铀矿化,但目前对这两期铀矿化中铀矿物的地球化学特征尚缺乏系统的对比研究。文章运用电子探针和激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱对相山铀矿田两期铀矿化矿石中铀矿物稀土元素特征进行研究。结果显示,相山铀矿田碱交代和酸交代型铀矿化矿石中铀矿物类型均包含钛铀矿、铀石和沥青铀矿,碱交代型铀矿化矿石中铀矿物以钛铀矿、铀石为主,酸交代型铀矿化矿石中铀矿物以沥青铀矿为主。碱交代型铀矿化矿石中铀矿物稀土元素配分模式为右倾型,富集La、Ce和Nd等元素;酸交代型铀矿化矿石中铀矿物稀土元素配分模式为左倾型,富集Yb、Er和Dy等元素。酸交代型铀矿化矿石中沥青铀矿相对富集重稀土元素,与国内外其他类型的铀矿床相比其成矿过程有明显特殊性,这可能与成矿流体富F-有关;深部沥青铀矿较浅部富集重稀土元素的原因可能是深部沥青铀矿结晶温度高于浅部;相对于铀石和钛铀矿等铀矿物,重稀土富集对沥青铀矿有倾向性可能是因为沥青铀矿形成的过程与CO₃^2-和Cl-关系密切。     

迤纳厂矿床：一个“白云鄂博式”铁铜稀土矿床

云南武定迤纳厂铁铜稀土矿床是滇中地区具有代表性的元古宙铁铜稀土矿床之一。矿床中除了铁、铜资源外,还伴生有稀土、稀有(铌)、钇、钼、钴等组分。研究表明：稀土元素含量在条纹条带状矿石和脉状矿石中均较高,ΣREE含量分别高达(1 446.83~11 259.23)×10-6和(2 020.92~3 415.51)×10-6,尤其富集La、Ce等轻稀土元素;稀有(铌)元素主要富集在条纹条带状矿石中,含量高达(278.8~529.0)×10-6。由于矿床的矿物组成非常复杂,并且矿石中稀土、稀有(铌)矿物含量相对较少,矿物结晶粒度细小,用传统的测试技术和方法很难识别鉴定,因此矿床的矿物学特征,尤其是稀土、稀有(铌)矿物的赋存状态特征研究一直以来都较为棘手。论文应用矿物表征自动定量分析系统(AMICS),结合扫描电镜能谱仪(SEM-EDS)显微结构原位分析技术,完成了常规岩矿鉴定手段难以完成的矿物定量识别和鉴定,在矿石中发现了含量可观的氟碳钙铈矿、氟碳铈矿和少量的独居石、褐帘石、铌铁矿、褐钇铌矿、硅钍钇矿、含铌金红石等稀有稀土矿物。其中,氟碳铈矿、独居石、铌铁矿、褐钇铌矿等主要富集于条纹条带状矿石中,与铁氧化物、磷灰石、萤石、菱铁矿和早期黄铜矿、黄铁矿等紧密共生;氟碳钙铈矿、褐帘石、硅钍钇矿、含铌金红石等主要局部富集在脉状矿石中,与石英、方解石、绿泥石和晚期黄铜矿、黄铁矿等紧密共生。显然,在铁氧化物和铜硫化物成矿两个阶段均伴随有稀土成矿作用。结合前人的研究成果,笔者将主矿化期划分为铁氧化物磷灰石稀土成矿阶段(Ⅱ-1)和铜硫化物(金)稀土成矿阶段(Ⅱ-2)。其中,氟碳铈矿、独居石、铌铁矿、褐钇铌矿等主要形成于Ⅱ-1阶段,其成矿作用可能与Columbia超大陆裂谷化裂解有关;氟碳钙铈矿、褐帘石、硅钍钇矿、(含铌)金红石等则主要形成于Ⅱ-2阶段,其成矿作用可能与Rodinia超大陆裂解有关。对比研究发现,云南武定迤纳厂铁铜稀土矿床与白云鄂博超大型铌铁稀土矿床在大地构造背景、成矿元素组合、赋矿岩系、矿物组成、成矿时代、稀土来源等方面均有可对比性,初步确定云南武定迤纳厂铁铜稀土矿床是一个“白云鄂博式”矿床。     

霓辉石脉中的铀钍矿物特征

近年来,我们在川西南地区的霓辉石脉、霓辉石正长岩脉、石英正长霓辉石脉以及碱性煌斑岩脉中,发现了一些少见的铀钍矿物。其中斜方钛铀矿为国内外首次发现,另外方铀钍石、铀钛磁铁矿、晶形十分完整的钍石、铈铀钛铁矿,含铀铈磷灰石、含铀氟碳铈矿、含铀氟碳铈镧矿等也是不常见的铀钍矿物及稀土矿物。该区矿化岩石的种类较多,本文着重介绍霓辉石脉中的铀钍矿物——方铀钍石的特征。     

南岭离子吸附型稀土矿床成矿规律研究新进展

离子吸附型稀土矿是我国的优势资源,是全球重稀土的主要来源。20世纪80年代我国对此类矿床的成矿规律开展过大量研究,但仍有诸多未解之谜。为了解目前离子吸附型稀土资源的分布特征和成矿规律,2011~2015年中国地质科学院矿产资源所三稀项目组对52个离子吸附型稀土矿床进行了综合研究,本文介绍稀土成矿规律研究方面取得的一些新进展:(1)离子吸附型稀土矿床广泛分布在华南地区,以南岭最为发育,近些年在越南、老挝、泰国及美国也有发现。矿床主要产在花岗岩和酸性火山岩风化壳中,近几年也在变质岩和灰岩风化壳中有所发现,但花岗岩离子吸附型稀土矿床规模较大,品位较高,仍是最为重要的一类(亚类)稀土矿床;(2)成矿花岗岩的形成时代范围较宽,锆石U-Pb年龄集中在461~384Ma、228~242Ma和189~94Ma三个区间。相对于LREE型成矿花岗岩,HREE型更加富硅,富HREE,具有强烈的负Eu异常,普遍高Rb,低Ti、Zr、Hf、Nb、Ta、Ba、Sr等微量元素,暗示HREE型成矿花岗岩岩浆经历了高度分异。值得注意的是,部分LREE型成矿花岗岩相对富集HREE,特别是富集Y,轻重稀土元素比值(LREE/HREE)多介于1~3之间,风化易形成HREE型风化壳,这很可能是今后重稀土资源的重要来源之一;(3)成矿花岗岩中稀土矿物的成因多样,有岩浆成因(如榍石、褐帘石、独居石、磷钇矿等)、流体交代成因(稀土氟碳酸盐类)和表生成因(水磷铈矿、水磷镧矿等),稀土元素的内生矿化很大程度上受流体交代作用影响;(4)发育完整的风化壳垂向剖面中稀土元素含量呈"弓背式"分布,即表土层和半风化层中含量低,全风化层中含量高,但受地形、地貌及地表水等因素的影响,稀土含量变化曲线呈多种形态。垂向上LREE和HREE可分层富集,即全风化层上部富集LREE,下部富集HREE,也可以同时富集在全风化层下部。华南大量成矿母岩和风化壳样品的化学风化蚀变指数(CIA)与稀土元素总量(∑REE)之间存在明显的相关性,当CIA85%时,CIA与∑REE呈正相关,当85%CIA100%时,CIA与∑REE呈负相关;(5)表生过程中,母岩中易风化的稀土矿物不断释放出可交换性吸附态的稀土元素,酸性淋滤作用是稀土元素迁移的动力,黏土矿物是稀土元素赋存的载体,风化程度影响稀土元素的次生富集。     

纳米比亚罗辛地区白岗岩型铀矿成因研究

纳米比亚罗辛地区白岗岩型铀矿床产于白岗岩穹窿边部白岗岩与达玛拉基底变质岩内外接触带,以及变质岩片理、褶皱、转折等部位.已有矿床晶质铀矿年龄介于494～508Ma之间,既是D、E两期白岗岩重熔年龄,也是近水平方向韧性剪切变形活动时代.白岗岩型铀矿床铀矿物以晶质铀矿、钍铀矿、钛铀矿为主,晶质铀矿及伴生的锆石、独居石等矿物具有全自形或半自形晶粒状结构、浸染状构造,具有岩浆分异结晶特征.铀铅同位素示踪分析表明铀来自达玛拉基底岩系和A、B、F期白岗岩.含矿的D、E白岗岩是基底变质岩和早期白岗岩部分重熔形成的.以晶质铀矿为主的白岗岩型铀矿床是在达玛拉造山期岩浆形成演化阶段,由结晶分异作用形成铀预富集基础上,在造山期后韧性变形作用下白岗岩再次重熔富集成矿的.     

相山富集HREE铀矿石与围岩的稀土特征对比

江西相山火山盆地为一个塌陷式盆地,盆地内发育多个火山岩型铀矿床。课题组前期工作发现相山铀矿田中的富矿石伴生稀土资源,且为珍贵的HREE富集,在背景围岩和近矿蚀变围岩中稀土富集不明显（王倩等,2015;胡宝群等,2015）。富铀矿石中稀土元素与围岩中的稀土元素表现出明显的差异性,为进一步探明稀土元素在铀成矿过程中的地球化学行为,对矿石中的单矿物分析测试,进一步探明相山铀矿中稀土元素的富集规律及机理;同时为在铀矿选冶中,对铀矿中的稀土伴生资源加以利用回收提供相关参数,提高矿产资源的利用率,减少环境污染。     

邹家山铀矿床中伴生稀土元素的地球化学特征及酸浸实验研究

研究了邹家山铀矿床原始矿石中的稀土元素含量特征及其在酸浸过程中的行为。结果表明:(1)该矿床矿石中伴生的稀土元素总含量很高,∑REE平均含量达3231.55×10-6,其中HREE达2933.39×10-6,属珍贵的重稀土元素富集型,具有负Eu异常、Ce无异常的特征。(2)在强酸及氧化剂浸泡条件下,轻、重稀土元素的浸出行为明显不同。重稀土元素更易被浸出,其浸出率是轻稀土元素的2倍左右。在强酸或强酸加氧化剂浸泡下,随原子序数的增加,轻稀土元素(La~Eu)的浸出率较明显增加,而重稀土元素(Gd~Lu-Y)的浸出率则小幅度递减;15种稀土元素中Gd的浸出率最高,La的浸出率最低。(3)初步获得邹家山铀矿床伴生稀土元素酸法浸出的最佳硫酸浓度和氧化剂用量,即在硫酸浓度为30g/L的条件下,100mL的浸泡液中含有2mL30%的过氧化氢时,稀土元素浸出率可达到最高值。     

赣南某离子吸附型稀土矿床浅变质岩的矿化特征

近几年在赣南新元古代浅变质岩风化壳中发现了离子吸附型稀土矿床,对矿区及南岭科学深钻中的浅变质岩样品进行了岩石、矿物及地球化学特征研究.矿区内主要出露神山组和库里组（南华系）,前者以千枚岩为主,含少量片岩,后者以厚层变质沉凝灰岩和中厚层变质砂岩为主;南岭科学深钻1 165~1 170.77 m库里组（青白口系）以变质沉凝灰岩为主夹薄层凝灰质板岩.浅变质岩类中新生变质矿物有绢云母、绿泥石、磁铁矿、堇青石、白云母、黑云母等,稀土矿物有新奇钙铈矿、独居石、磷钇矿、水独居石等;稀土含量为162×10-6~723×10-6,富集轻稀土.新奇钙铈矿是矿体中离子相稀土的主要来源;赣南青白口纪-南华纪中厚层变质沉凝灰岩和变质凝灰岩风化壳具有较好的稀土成矿前景.      

Geology and rare-earth element geochemistry of highly evolved, molybdenite-bearing granitic plutons, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

The field relations, mineralogy, and major and trace elements (including REE analyses of whole-rock samples and minerals) of granites and their associated molybdenite uranium mineralized aplites in Southeastern Desert, Egypt, have been studied. The granites are leucocratic and mostly peraluminous in nature with muscovite increasing at the expense of biotite. The chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the granitic rocks indicate that their melts originated from the LILE-enriched mantle wedge by partial melting and are contaminated by crustal melts, followed by thermogravitational processes. Leucogranites with higher Na2O/K2O ratios from Um Dargag and Um Maiat crystallized under H2O-saturated equilibrium conditions in which the exsolved vapor continuously migrated away. The REE patterns of the granites studied are characterized by LREE enrichments and negative Eu anomalies. In comparison, the potassic aplites and the more sodic leucogranites are depleted in LREE, enriched in HREE and show more remarkable negative Eu anomalies. Allanite and monazite are the most important REE carriers in the granites. These minerals are strongly enriched in LREE, whereas fluorite and xenotime, which are more abundant in the aplites, are enriched in HREE. The average Lu/Ce ratio represents the fractionation trend with respect to HREE. It is 0.71 for radioactive fluorite, and it increases to 1.22 for non-radioactive fluorite. The high REE contents of molybdenite represent re-deposition of the mobilized Mo and REE. Due to the strong control of accessory minerals, the REEs are of limited use in petrogenetic modelling of highly evolved granitic systems.     

Distribution of REE,Y, Sc,and Th in the unique complex rare-metal ores of the Tomtor deposit

The REE (Ln), Y, Sc, and Th distribution in the unique complex rare-metal ores of the Tomtor deposit is considered. Significant variability of these components and REE composition is revealed. Ore blocks with elevated Y and HREE contents are identified among prevailing LREE-enriched ores. It is established that the REE variations in the ores are correlated with evolution of REE carriers during epigenetic transformations of the carbonatite weathering products, in particular, with a replacement of Ce-bearing minerals (monazite and florencite) by Y-bearing mineral, xenotime. It is found that LREE and HREE exhibit different behavior during formation of the Tomtor ores, which is expressed in the inert behavior and residual accumulation of Ce-group REE at essential introduction of Y, HREE, Sc, and Th during epigenetic transformation of weathering products of carbonatites, which represent one of the main factors of the formation of the unique rare-metal ores of the Tomtor deposit.     

Evolution of Pan African A- and I-Type Granites from Southeastern Egypt: Inferences from Geology,Geochemistry, and Mineralization

Field study of granitic rocks in the Gebel Abu Brush-Dahis (ABD) area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt, shows that they comprise two granitic groups, namely A- and I-type suites. The A type is distinguished mineralogically by abundant orthoclase and sodic plagioclase, ferrohornblende, monazite, and allanite. In contrast, the I type has more hornblende and biotite, which are more magnesian in composition, and less feldspar. The parental magmas of both suites have many similar geochemical characteristics, although the A type has slightly higher alkalis, Zr, Hf, Zn, and LREE, and lower CaO, MgO, Sr, Ni, and Fe⁺². The geochemical properties characteristic of leucocratic A-type granites-such as high Ga/Al ratios, Nb, Y, HREE, and F contents-are only manifest in the more felsic members of the A-type suite. These features were produced by 70% fractional crystallization of feldspar, hornblende, quartz, and biotite. Geotectonically, the study revealed that the A-and I-type granites are typical of an arc setting, but the more felsic members of the A-type suite plot in a within-plate regime. Geochemically, the granites are subalkaline and peraluminous to metaluminous. The granodiorites/adamellites (I-type suite) have fractionated LREE and slightly fractionated or nearly flat HREE, with small or no Eu anomalies. The alkali-feldspar granites (A-type suite) have flat REE with large Eu anomalies, except for one sample, which shows increasing LREE and decreasing HREE with large Eu anomalies; the quartz-monzonites have fractionated LREE and nearly flat HREE with no Eu anomaly. The flat HREE and/or HREE enrichment is attributed to involvement of garnet and/or zircon in melt generation at the source.

The uranium and thorium contents in the granitic rocks are present in the accessory minerals—particulary in monazite, titanite, zircon, allanite, fluorite, apatite, and opaques. Anomalous high radioactivity in the bostonite (alkaline) dike as well as uranium mineralization are largely confined to contacts and fracture zones. Uranophane is the characteristic uranium mineral in the oxidation zone. An XRD study of the high anomalies in pegmatite and bostonite reveals that the uranium mineralizations produced uranophane (Usilicate), thorianite, soddyite, zippeite, and becquerelite.     

Content and mode of occurrences of rare earth elements in the Zagrad karstic bauxite deposit (Nikšić area,Montenegro)

Three vertical sections through the Zagrad deposit of Jurassic karst bauxite in central Montenegro have provided knowledge of the vertical distribution of major and some selected trace elements, including rare earth elements (REE). Variations in the mineralogy, particularly those hosting REE, have been studied. This has revealed the presence of authigenic mineral phases such as xenotime, mottramite and monazite (best proved using Raman microprobe analysis) as well as residual phases such as zircon, titanite and monazite. The mobility of the elements during bauxitization processes has been studied to show that the REE minerals ensure progressive concentration of these elements during removal of major elements through weathering. The similarity of normalized REE in the bauxite to the typical Post-Archean Australian Shales (PAAS) and Upper Continental Crust (UCC) profile, and the preserved Eu anomaly, are evidence that the bauxite was not derived from carbonates and represents alteration of shale, marly limestone and volcanogenic or proximal igneous sourced detritus that accumulated in the original karst landform. Mass change during bauxitization, using Ti as “index” element and compared to PAAS composition, revealed almost 100% depletion of Si and weak enrichment in Al. Deeper parts of the deposit with authigenic minerals exhibit very strong enrichment in all REE. The bauxite ores have high ΣREE contents (693.5–6953.4 ppm), especially ΣLREE contents (582.8–4882.9 ppm), while ΣHREE contents (106.6–2070.5 ppm) are much lower.     

Behaviour of rare-earth elements in highly evolved granitic systems: Evidence from Proterozoic molybdenite mineralized aplites and associated granites in northern Sweden

Field relations, mineralogy, major- and trace-element contents (including REE analyses of whole-rock samples and minerals) of three Proterozoic granites and their associated molybdenite mineralized aplites have been studied at Allebuoda, Munka and Kåtaberget in northern Sweden. The granites crystallized from melts that were not saturated with water. The mineralized potassic aplites formed by quenching of residual melts caused by sudden pressure drop, H₂O saturation and vapour escape during tectonic rupturing. Leucogranites with higher Na₂O/K₂O ratios from Allebuoda and Munka crystallized during H₂O-saturated equilibrium conditions in which the exsolved vapour could continuously migrate away. The pressure was probably 3 kbar at Munka, and somewhat lower at Allebuoda.

The granites have REE patterns characterized by LREE enrichments and negative Eu anomalies. In comparison, the potassic aplites and the more sodic leucogranites are depleted in LREE, enriched in HREE and have larger negative Eu anomalies. Allanite and monazite are the most important REE carriers in the granites. These minerals are strongly enriched in LREE, whereas fluorite and xenotime, which are more abundant in the aplites, are most enriched in HREE. Due to the strong control of accessory minerals on the REE balance, REE are of limited use in petrogenetic modelling of highly evolved granitic systems.     

Prograde metamorphic sequence of REE minerals in pelitic rocks of the Central Alps: implications for allanite–monazite–xenotime phase relations from 250 to 610 °C

The distribution of REE minerals in metasedimentary rocks was investigated to gain insight into the stability of allanite, monazite and xenotime in metapelites. Samples were collected in the central Swiss Alps, along a well‐established metamorphic field gradient that record conditions from very low grade metamorphism (250 °C) to the lower amphibolite facies (～600 °C). In the Alpine metapelites investigated, mass balance calculations show that LREE are mainly transferred between monazite and allanite during the course of prograde metamorphism. At very low grade metamorphism, detrital monazite grains (mostly Variscan in age) have two distinct populations in terms of LREE and MREE compositions. Newly formed monazite crystallized during low‐grade metamorphism (<440 °C); these are enriched in La, but depleted in Th and Y, compared with inherited grains. Upon the appearance of chloritoid (～440–450 °C, thermometry based on chlorite–choritoid and carbonaceous material), monazite is consumed, and MREE and LREE are taken up preferentially in two distinct zones of allanite distinguishable by EMPA and X‐ray mapping. Prior to garnet growth, allanite acquires two growth zones of clinozoisite: a first one rich in HREE + Y and a second one containing low REE contents. Following garnet growth, close to the chloritoid–out zone boundary (～556–580 °C, based on phase equilibrium calculations), allanite and its rims are partially to totally replaced by monazite and xenotime, both associated with plagioclase (± biotite ± staurolite ± kyanite ± quartz). In these samples, epidote relics are located in the matrix or as inclusions in garnet, and these preserve their characteristic chemical and textural growth zoning, indicating that they did not experience re‐equilibration following their prograde formation. Hence, the partial breakdown of allanite to monazite offers the attractive possibility to obtain in situ ages, representing two distinct crystallization stages. In addition, the complex REE + Y and Th zoning pattern of allanite and monazite are essential monitors of crystallization conditions at relatively low metamorphic grade.     

Methodology for Rare Earth Element Determinations of Uranium Oxides by Ion Microprobe

A methodology for the determination of the rare earth elements in uranium oxides by ion microprobe has been set up on a Cameca ims-3f instrument. An uranium oxide reference material from a syn-metamorphic uranium deposit related to albitisation has also been developed for this type of analysis. Applications of the methodology are presented for a series of uranium oxides selected from some major uranium deposit types: from the world's highest grade unconformity-related uranium deposit from the Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada; the Shea Creek and the McArthur River examples), a perigranitic vein-type deposit (Pen Ar Ran, Vendée, France) and a volcanic caldera-related deposit (Streltsovkoye, Transbaikalia, Russia). Each type of uranium deposit appears to have a specific REE signature. All REE patterns from the Shea Creek and the McArthur deposits are characterised by bell-shaped patterns centred on Tb-Dy and similar to those already published for uranium oxides from unconformity-related deposits from Australia. Such bell-shaped REE patterns centred on Tb-Dy may therefore be considered as a typical signature of uranium oxides from Mesoproterozoic unconformity-related deposits. A smoother bell shape pattern centred on Eu characterises the syn-metamorphic albitisation related deposit of Mistamisk selected for the reference material. The REE patterns from the Pen Ar Ran deposit show a fractionation from LREE to HREE with anomalously high abundances of Sm, Eu and Gd with respect to the other REEs, similar to the REE patterns of uranium oxides from the volcanic-related deposits of Streltsovkoye.