Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia: A carbonatite-derived laterite
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Carbonatite-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposits are the primary source of the world’s light REEs. The Mount Weld REE deposit in Western Australia is hosted in a lateritic sequence that reflects supergene enrichment of the underlying carbonatite. Water-rock interaction is a key to the formation of this world-class deposit. REE enrichment in the laterite is controlled by the breakdown of primary minerals, the release and transport of REEs, and the formation of secondary minerals. Secondary REE-bearing phosphate minerals are the primary REE-host phases in the laterite ore with monazite as the dominant phase; other REE-bearing phases include rhabdophane, cerianite, churchite, florencite, and crandallite subgroup minerals. Profiles through the laterite show that in the REE-rich zone, apatite and primary calcite and dolomite have broken down such that the loss of Ca and Mg, as well as Si and K, leads to a relative increase in the REEs. Sequestering of REEs in secondary mineral phases formed by groundwater further enhances the REE concentration.
Study Area
| Publication type | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
| Title | Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia: A carbonatite-derived laterite |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | UNICApress |
| Contributing office(s) | Central Energy Resources Science Center, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Conference publication |
| Larger Work Title | Proceedings of the 3rd IAGC international conference |
| First page | 643 |
| Last page | 646 |
| Country | Australia |
| Other Geospatial | Mount Weld Mine |