Carbonate complexation enhances hydrothermal transport of rare earth elements in alkaline fluids.

ABSTRACT: Rare earth elements (REE), essential metals for the transition to a zero-emission economy, are mostly extracted from REE-fluorcarbonate minerals in deposits associated with carbonatitic and/or peralkaline magmatism. While the role of high-temperature fluids (100 < T < 500 °C) in the development of economic concentrations of REE is well-established, the mechanisms of element transport, ore precipitation, and light (L)REE/heavy (H)REE fractionation remain a matter of debate. Here, we provide direct evidence from in-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) that the formation of hydroxyl-carbonate complexes in alkaline fluids enhances hydrothermal mobilization of LREE at T ≥ 400 °C and HREE at T ≤ 200 °C, even in the presence of fluorine. These results not only reveal that the modes of REE tra

SUBMITTER: Louvel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8933457 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature