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23 pages, 10699 KB  
Article
Apatite Geochemical Signatures of REE Ore-Forming Processes in Carbonatite System: A Case Study of the Weishan REE Deposit, Luxi Terrane
by Yi-Xue Gao, Shan-Shan Li, Chuan-Peng Liu, Ming-Qian Wu, Zhen Shang, Yi-Zhan Sun, Ze-Yu Yang and Kun-Feng Qiu
Minerals 2026, 16(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16010112 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 68
Abstract
The Weishan rare earth element (REE) deposit, located in western Shandong, North China Block, is a typical carbonatite REE deposit and constitutes the third largest light REE resource in China. Its mineralization is closely related to the multi-stage evolution of a carbonatite magma–hydrothermal [...] Read more.
The Weishan rare earth element (REE) deposit, located in western Shandong, North China Block, is a typical carbonatite REE deposit and constitutes the third largest light REE resource in China. Its mineralization is closely related to the multi-stage evolution of a carbonatite magma–hydrothermal system. However, the mechanisms governing REE enrichment, migration, and precipitation remain insufficiently constrained from a mineralogical perspective, which hampers the understanding of the ore-forming processes and the establishment of predictive exploration models. Apatite is a pervasively developed REE phase in the Weishan deposit which occurs in multiple generations, and thus represents an ideal recorder of the magmatic–hydrothermal evolution. In this study, different generations of apatite hosted in carbonatite orebodies from the Weishan deposit were investigated using cathodoluminescence (CL), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and in situ LA-ICP-MS trace element analysis. Three types of apatite were identified. In paragenetic sequence, Ap-1 occurs as polycrystalline aggregates coexisting with calcite, is enriched in Na, Sr, and LREEs, and shows high (La/Yb)N ratios, suggesting crystallization from an evolved carbonatite magma. Ap-2 and Ap-3 display typical replacement textures: both contain abundant dissolution pits and dissolution channels within the grains, which are filled by secondary minerals such as monazite and ancylite, and thus exhibit characteristic features of fluid-mediated dissolution–reprecipitation during the hydrothermal stage. Ap-2 is commonly associated with barite and strontianite, whereas Ap-3 is associated with pyrite and monazite and is characterized by relatively sharp grain boundaries with adjacent minerals. From Ap-1 to Ap-3, total REE contents decrease systematically, whereas Na, Sr, and P contents increase. All three apatite types lack Eu anomalies but display positive Ce anomalies. Discrimination diagrams involving LREE-Sr/Y and log(Ce)-log(Eu/Y) indicate that apatite in the Weishan REE deposit formed during the magmatic to hydrothermal evolution of a carbonatite, and that the dissolution of early magmatic apatite, followed by element remobilization and mineral reprecipitation, effectively records the progressive evolution of the ore-forming fluid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gold–Polymetallic Deposits in Convergent Margins)
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19 pages, 8644 KB  
Article
U-Pb Dating and Geochemical Characteristics of Zircon and Apatite from Ore-Bearing Porphyry of Huxu Au-Dominated Polymetallic Deposit in Dongxiang Volcanic Basin, South China
by Hongze Gao, Jiajie Chen, Lei Mo, Genqiang Wei, Kaixuan Li, Yijuan Wu and Lili Wang
Minerals 2026, 16(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16010103 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 69
Abstract
The Huxu Au-dominated deposit is a representative intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposit in the middle section of the Gan-Hang belt. The formation of such deposits is commonly closely related to deep magmatism. However, the specific relationship between the formation of the Huxu deposit and [...] Read more.
The Huxu Au-dominated deposit is a representative intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposit in the middle section of the Gan-Hang belt. The formation of such deposits is commonly closely related to deep magmatism. However, the specific relationship between the formation of the Huxu deposit and the magmatic rocks, and the tectonic setting of the related magmatism and mineralization in this deposit still remains unclear. In this study, we present the results of U-Pb dating, major and trace element analysis, and Nd isotope analysis of the magmatic zircon and apatite from the ore-bearing quartz diorite porphyry in the Huxu deposit. The results show that the U-Pb ages of zircon and apatite from the quartz diorite porphyry are 137.9 ± 1.3 Ma and 130 ± 16 Ma, respectively; the total content of rare earth elements (ΣREEs) in the zircons ranges from 446.66 to 2752.92 ppm, exhibiting enrichment in heavy REE and depletion in light REE, with a slightly negative Eu anomaly and a slightly positive Ce anomaly; the ΣREEs in the apatite is relatively high, ranging from 3252.02 to 13,155.92 ppm, averaged 5604.16 ppm, and exhibits a right-leaning mode with light REE enrichment and heavy REE depletion, with a moderate degree of negative Eu anomaly; the distribution of 143Nd/144Nd ratios of the apatite is rather concentrated (0.512145–0.512271), and the εNd(t) value calculated based on the U-Pb age of apatite ranges from −8.31 to 5.79. By combining the geological characteristics and the geochemical data of the deposit and the ore-bearing magmatic rocks, we propose that the ore-bearing quartz diorite porphyry of the Huxu Au-dominated polymetallic deposit belongs to I-type granite; the parental magma is the mixture of juvenile and ancient crustal melts; the tectonic setting of the intrusion and mineralization is the continental margin arc related to the subduction of the ancient Pacific Ocean Plate in the Early Cretaceous Epoch; and the ore-forming fluids and metals are provided by deep magma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Igneous Rocks and Related Mineral Deposits)
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27 pages, 11791 KB  
Article
Phosphorite Ore Enrichment Due to Secondary Alteration in the Jhamarkotra Stromatolitic Phosphorites, Aravalli Supergroup, Northwestern India
by Rajeev Kumar, Bulusu Sreenivas, Teeda Vijaya Kumar, Shikha Dixit, Gugulothu Balu and Andrey Bekker
Minerals 2026, 16(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16010097 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 366
Abstract
The Paleoproterozoic Aravalli Supergroup in northwest India hosts one of the oldest phosphorite deposits on Earth, located in the Jhamarkotra Formation, which was deposited after ca. 1762 Ma. Secondary enrichment is identified in the eastern region, resulting in upgradation of phosphate content, while [...] Read more.
The Paleoproterozoic Aravalli Supergroup in northwest India hosts one of the oldest phosphorite deposits on Earth, located in the Jhamarkotra Formation, which was deposited after ca. 1762 Ma. Secondary enrichment is identified in the eastern region, resulting in upgradation of phosphate content, while primary stromatolitic columns are well-preserved in the western area of the Jhamarkotra mines. In this study, drill-core samples were collected from the unaltered western Block B and the upgraded eastern Block E to understand the alteration process. Petrographic studies reveal evidence of structural deformation and alteration. Elemental mapping of petrographic thin sections, employing SEM-EDS, indicates that dolomite has been leached out, resulting in phosphorite upgrading in the E-block. The major element oxide data support the leaching of dolomite. In the upgraded E-block, the weighted average P2O5 content nearly doubled (from 21% to 38%), while the MgO content decreased from 21% to 4% compared to the B-block. REE+Y contents in Block E are increased with minor Ce and Eu anomalies developed compared to the B Block. The U and Sr concentrations are also increased in Block E phosphorites. The petrographic and geochemical studies indicate that phosphorite enrichment was driven by structurally controlled, low-temperature hydrothermal alteration in the Jhamarkotra mines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
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19 pages, 8512 KB  
Article
Geochronology and Geochemistry of Granitic Gneisses in the Dabie Orogen, Central China: Constraints on the Petrogenesis of Mid-Neoproterozoic Magmatic Rocks in the Northern Yangtze Block
by Qiao Bai, Yongsheng Wang, Liquan Ma, Xu Zhang and Shuai Zhang
Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1323; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121323 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 421
Abstract
Mid-Neoproterozoic magmatism provides important constraints for revealing the break-up history of the Rodinia supercontinent. Large-sized mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are distributed within the Dabie Orogen located on the northern Yangtze Block. This study performed zircon LA-ICP-MS geochronology, whole-rock major and trace elements, and zircon [...] Read more.
Mid-Neoproterozoic magmatism provides important constraints for revealing the break-up history of the Rodinia supercontinent. Large-sized mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are distributed within the Dabie Orogen located on the northern Yangtze Block. This study performed zircon LA-ICP-MS geochronology, whole-rock major and trace elements, and zircon Lu-Hf isotope analyses on orthogneisses with a mid-Neoproterozoic protolith age of the northern Dabie Orogen. The analysis results show that the intrusion times of mid-Neoproterozoic granitoids and mafic rocks are all ~750 Ma, with εHf(t) values ranging from −6.60 to −2.57 and a two-stage Hf model age of ~1.8 Ga. They are characterized by light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment and heavy rare earth element (HREE) depletion. In the primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram, these rocks are enriched in La, Ce, Th, K, Zr, Nd, and Sm and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, Ti, and Sr, with negative Eu anomaly or no significant Eu anomaly. Based on the discrimination diagrams, most of the samples are plotted into the A-type granite field, and which was formed in a post-orogenic extension setting. Comprehensive analysis shows that these mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks were produced by melting of juvenile crust of the Paleoproterozoic and late Mesoproterozoic, having a heterogeneous distribution of δ18O, indicating that these rocks were developed mainly through high-temperature meteoric-hydrothermal alteration during syn-rift magmatic activity. Full article
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23 pages, 15659 KB  
Article
Depositional Environment and Biological Activity Implications of the Jining BIF, Western Shandong Province, China: Evidence from Elements and C-O Isotopic Compositions
by Rongzhen Tang, Xinkai Chen, Jiashuo Cao and Yanjing Chen
Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121298 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 325
Abstract
In the early Paleoproterozoic, the Earth’s atmosphere–ocean system shifted from a reducing to an oxidizing state, triggering the extensive deposition of banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Siderian period (2.5–2.3 Ga). As a key sedimentary formed during the hydrospheric oxidation stage, BIFs are [...] Read more.
In the early Paleoproterozoic, the Earth’s atmosphere–ocean system shifted from a reducing to an oxidizing state, triggering the extensive deposition of banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Siderian period (2.5–2.3 Ga). As a key sedimentary formed during the hydrospheric oxidation stage, BIFs are expected to preserve abundant microbial fossils or organic carbon. However, evidence for contemporaneous widespread biological activity remains limited. This paper focuses on C-O isotopes and the trace element geochemistry of the 2.5 Ga Jining BIF to constrain the redox state of paleo-oceans and associated biogeochemical cycling during BIF deposition. The δ13Ccarb values of the BIF samples range from −18.6‰ to −9.6‰, with an average of −12.7‰, exhibiting a notable negative value, and TOC contents (0.04–0.19 wt.%) are extremely low. This suggests the incorporation of oxidized organic carbon to pore water via ferrihydrite reduction during early diagenesis process. The globally negative δ13Ccarb value of BIFs and iron-rich carbonates reflect enhanced biological activity at ~2.5 Ga. REE patterns reveal negative Ce/Ce*(SN) and Eu/Eu*(CN) anomalies, and the presence of primary hematite mesobands together indicate that the Jining BIF records a redox transition in seawater from reducing to oxidizing conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical, Isotopic, and Biotic Records of Banded Iron Formations)
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27 pages, 4960 KB  
Article
Petrography and Geochemistry of the Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Limestones from the Mustafakemalpaşa Quarries, Bursa, Turkey: The Depositional Environmental and Diagenetic Processes
by Oya Cengiz, Didem Kıray and Ertan Özeğdemir
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111135 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 679
Abstract
Inatlar limestone, which is dated to the Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous, is exposed between the villages of Kabulbaba and Söğütalan in the Mustafakemalpaşa district of Bursa, Turkey. This study investigates its mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical characteristics, focusing on major, trace, and rare earth element [...] Read more.
Inatlar limestone, which is dated to the Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous, is exposed between the villages of Kabulbaba and Söğütalan in the Mustafakemalpaşa district of Bursa, Turkey. This study investigates its mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical characteristics, focusing on major, trace, and rare earth element (REEs) compositions to interpret the depositional environment, paleoenvironmental conditions, and diagenetic processes. Petrographic analysis identified four main limestone types: siliceous, micritic, fossiliferous, and dolomitic. REEs geochemistry indicates enrichment in heavy REEs (HREEs), depletion in light REEs (LREEs), and characteristic anomalies with negative Ce and Eu and positive La, suggesting an open marine depositional environment and early diagenesis. Trace element data point to deposition in settings ranging from continental margins to open marine environments. Ni and V concentrations reflect a spectrum of depositional conditions, including terrestrial, transitional (oxic–dysoxic), and marine anoxic settings. Z values support the theory that the limestones have a marine origin. δ13C and δ18O isotope values indicate deposition in both hydrothermal and typical marine carbonate environments. Y/Ho and Er/Nd ratios reveal the influence of terrestrial input, as well as diagenetic and detrital material. Furthermore, V/(V + Ni) ratios reflect fluctuating oxic to suboxic/anoxic conditions, while Ni/Co ratios indicate predominantly euxinic and, to a lesser extent, anoxic conditions. Altogether, these geochemical signatures suggest that the Inatlar limestone was deposited in a dynamic marine system characterized by variable redox states and salinity fluctuations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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18 pages, 5103 KB  
Article
Geochemical Characterisation of Strategic Elements (Li, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ge, and REEs) in Bottom Ash from the Thermal Power Plant (Afşin–Elbistan, Türkiye)
by Leyla Kalender, Hatice Kara, Mehmet Ali Ertürk, Cihan Yalçın, Mehmet Deniz Turan and Emine Cicioğlu Sütçü
Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101026 - 28 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 808
Abstract
This study investigates the concentrations and geochemical behaviour of strategic elements—including Li, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ge, rare earth elements (REEs), and yttrium (Y)—in bottom ash samples from the Afşin–Elbistan thermal power plant, Türkiye. Thirty bottom ash samples were analysed, revealing average ∑LREE [...] Read more.
This study investigates the concentrations and geochemical behaviour of strategic elements—including Li, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ge, rare earth elements (REEs), and yttrium (Y)—in bottom ash samples from the Afşin–Elbistan thermal power plant, Türkiye. Thirty bottom ash samples were analysed, revealing average ∑LREE and ∑HREE concentrations of 86.3 µg/g and 3.3 µg/g, respectively, resulting in an L/H ratio of 24.9, indicating pronounced enrichment in light REEs. The total ∑REE + Y concentration (111 µg/g) is comparable to the background value for coal but approximately 1.5 times lower than those reported for average Chinese coals and the upper continental crust (UCC). REE contents significantly exceed those of sedimentary (5.36 µg/g), mafic (16.77 µg/g), and felsic (3.60 µg/g) rocks. Elevated Li (30.5 µg/g) and Ni (114.4 µg/g) concentrations point to a mafic magmatic source, whereas Cu (28.7 µg/g) likely originates from basic volcanic rocks such as those of the Dağlıca Complex and the Kemaliye Formation. Chondrite-normalised REE patterns show Dy depletion relative to mafic rocks and Ho depletion compared to sedimentary rocks. Positive δEu anomalies (>1) support a mafic or UCC provenance, while slightly positive δCe values indicate hydrothermal leaching influences. The co-precipitation of Ce with Ca–Mg hydroxides and clay minerals in coal-bearing lacustrine sediments is suggested. Ga enrichment is attributed to aluminium-rich clay minerals and organic matter. Overall, these geochemical signatures reflect combined inputs from hydrothermal leaching and volcanic weathering within a coal-bearing lacustrine environment. Full article
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19 pages, 2194 KB  
Article
Hidden Magnetic-Field-Induced Multiferroic States in A-Site-Ordered Quadruple Perovskites RMn3Ni2Mn2O12: Dielectric Studies
by Alexei A. Belik, Ran Liu and Kazunari Yamaura
Inorganics 2025, 13(10), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics13100315 - 25 Sep 2025
Viewed by 789
Abstract
The appearance of spin-induced ferroelectric polarization in the so-called type-II multiferroic materials has received a lot of attention. The nature and mechanisms of such polarization were intensively studied using perovskite rare-earth manganites, RMnO3, as model systems. Later, multiferroic properties were discovered [...] Read more.
The appearance of spin-induced ferroelectric polarization in the so-called type-II multiferroic materials has received a lot of attention. The nature and mechanisms of such polarization were intensively studied using perovskite rare-earth manganites, RMnO3, as model systems. Later, multiferroic properties were discovered in some RFeO3 perovskites and possibly in some RCrO3 perovskites. However, R2NiMnO6 double perovskites have ferromagnetic structures that do not break the inversion symmetry. It was found recently that more complex magnetic structures are realized in A-site-ordered quadruple perovskites, RMn3Ni2Mn2O12. Therefore, they have the potential to be multiferroics. In this work, dielectric properties in magnetic fields up to 9 T were investigated for such perovskites as RMn3Ni2Mn2O12 with R = Ce to Ho and for BiMn3Ni2Mn2O12. The samples with R = Bi, Ce, and Nd showed no dielectric anomalies at all magnetic fields, and the dielectric constant decreases with decreasing temperature. The samples with R = Sm to Ho showed qualitatively different behavior when the dielectric constant started increasing with decreasing temperature below certain temperatures close to the magnetic ordering temperatures, TN. This difference could suggest different magnetic ground states. The samples with R = Eu, Dy, and Ho still showed no anomalies on the dielectric constant. On the other hand, peaks emerged at TN on the dielectric constant in the R = Sm sample from about 2 T up to the maximum available field of 9 T. The Gd sample showed peaks on dielectric constant at TN between about 1 T and 7 T. Transition temperatures increase with increasing magnetic fields for R = Sm and decrease for R = Gd. These findings suggest the presence of magnetic-field-induced multiferroic states in the R = Sm and Gd samples with intermediate ionic radii. Dielectric properties at different magnetic fields are also reported for Lu2NiMnO6 for comparison. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Perovskites)
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17 pages, 6008 KB  
Article
Small-Scale Porphyry Cu (Au) Systems in Collisional Orogens: A Case Study of the Xifanping Deposit with Implications for Mineralization Potential in Western Yangtze Craton, SW China
by Yunhai Hu, Mimi Yang, Xingyuan Li, Guoxiang Chi and Fufeng Zhao
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15091001 - 20 Sep 2025
Viewed by 623
Abstract
The Xifanping Cu–(Au) deposit, a small-scale porphyry system in the central Jinshajiang–Red River tectonic belt (JSRR), formed in a Cenozoic collisional setting. This study integrates zircon U–Pb geochronology, Lu–Hf isotopes, whole-rock geochemistry, and zircon trace element analyses of ore-bearing and barren porphyries, combined [...] Read more.
The Xifanping Cu–(Au) deposit, a small-scale porphyry system in the central Jinshajiang–Red River tectonic belt (JSRR), formed in a Cenozoic collisional setting. This study integrates zircon U–Pb geochronology, Lu–Hf isotopes, whole-rock geochemistry, and zircon trace element analyses of ore-bearing and barren porphyries, combined with regional comparisons, to constrain magma sources, metallogenic controls, and genetic processes. Ore-bearing biotite quartz monzonite porphyries were emplaced at 32.15 ± 0.43 Ma and 32.49 ± 0.57 Ma, post-dating barren quartz monzonite porphyry (33.15 ± 0.51 Ma). These ages are consistent with molybdenite Re–Os ages (32.1 ± 1.6 Ma), indicating near-synchronous magmatism and mineralization. Both porphyry types belong to the shoshonitic, peraluminous series, enriched in LILE, depleted in HFSE, enriched in LREE, and lacking significant Eu anomalies. Their εHf (t) values (–2.94 to +3.68) and crustal model ages (TDM2 = 0.88–1.30 Ga) indicate derivation from Neoproterozoic subduction-modified lower crust. Ore-bearing porphyries, however, exhibit higher zircon Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios (average = 584 vs. 228 for barren porphyries) and elevated hydrous mineral contents (>10 vol.% amphibole + biotite), indicating more oxidized and water-rich parental magmas. Compared with large-scale porphyry systems (e.g., Dexing, northern Chile), the absence of adakitic signatures and only moderate oxidation limited the scale of mineralization. Overall, the Xifanping deposit formed through partial melting of Neoproterozoic subduction-modified lower crust in a post-collisional extensional regime: at ~33.2 Ma, melting of metasomatized ancient lower crust generated barren porphyries; at ~32 Ma, further evolution and differentiation of this lower crust magmas led to the extraction and enrichment of ore-forming materials from the thicken lower crust, producing hydrated, oxidized, ore-bearing magmas that intruded at shallow levels to form base and precious metal mineralizations. These results underscore the distinctive metallogenic characteristics of small-scale porphyry systems in collisional settings and provide new insights into how source composition and magma oxidation state constrain mineralization potential. Full article
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26 pages, 7813 KB  
Article
Fe–Si–O Isotope Characteristics and Ore Formation Mechanisms of the Hugushan Area BIF-Type Iron Deposits in the Central North China Craton
by Ende Wang, Deqing Zhang, Jinpeng Luan, Yekai Men, Ran Wang, Jianming Xia and Suibo Zhang
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090996 - 19 Sep 2025
Viewed by 746
Abstract
The Hugushan banded iron formation (BIF) is one of the most representative iron ore deposits in the central part of the North China Craton, and its ore formation mechanism remains highly controversial. This study presents whole-rock and Fe–Si–O isotope geochemical evidence, offering a [...] Read more.
The Hugushan banded iron formation (BIF) is one of the most representative iron ore deposits in the central part of the North China Craton, and its ore formation mechanism remains highly controversial. This study presents whole-rock and Fe–Si–O isotope geochemical evidence, offering a new perspective on the ore formation mechanism of the Hugushan BIFs. The samples from the upper and lower parts of the Hugushan BIFs are characterized by slight enrichment of heavy and light Fe isotopes, respectively. Additionally, the samples from the upper part of the Hugushan BIFs show characteristics of slightly positive Ce anomalies and negative La anomalies, suggesting that the shallow ancient seawater was in a partially oxidized state, whereas the deep seawater remained in a reductive environment during the depositional period. The low Al2O3 and TiO2 concentrations, as well as the depletion of Zr and Hf in the Hugushan BIFs, suggest that the contribution of terrestrial detrital materials to deposition is extremely limited. The BIFs all exhibit positive Eu anomalies, and the quartz in the BIFs is depleted in 30Si, a characteristic similar to that observed in siliceous rocks formed in hydrothermal vent environments and during hydrothermal plume activity. Additionally, the δ18O values of quartz in Hugushan BIFs are similar to the O isotope compositions of hydrothermal sedimentary siliceous rocks, further suggesting that the silicon in BIFs originates primarily from seafloor hydrothermal activity. The combination of Eu/Sm, Sm/Yb, and Y/Ho ratios indicates that the major components (iron and silica) of the Hugushan Iron Ore Deposit originated from the mixing of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids with seawater, with the hydrothermal fluid contributing slightly less than 0.1%. The magnetite and quartz bands in the BIFs exhibit inhomogeneous and covariant δ56Fe and δ30Si isotope characteristics, suggesting that the alternating siliceous and ferruginous layers are products of original chemical deposition in the ocean. Periodic hydrothermal activity and ocean transgression caused the recurring deposition of siliceous and ferruginous layers, resulting in the characteristic banded structure of the Hugushan Iron Ore Deposit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 7th National Youth Geological Congress)
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21 pages, 19080 KB  
Article
Provenance Evolution Since the Middle Pleistocene in the Western Bohai Sea, North China: Integrated Rare Earth Element Geochemistry and Sedimentological Records
by Shuyu Wu, Jun Liu and Yongcai Feng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(9), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13091632 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1530
Abstract
Despite extensive research on sediment provenance in the Bohai Sea (BS), a significant knowledge gap persists concerning long-term provenance evolution, particularly in the western BS since the Middle Pleistocene. This shortcoming limits reconstructions of paleoenvironmental evolution and its interplay with climatic variability and [...] Read more.
Despite extensive research on sediment provenance in the Bohai Sea (BS), a significant knowledge gap persists concerning long-term provenance evolution, particularly in the western BS since the Middle Pleistocene. This shortcoming limits reconstructions of paleoenvironmental evolution and its interplay with climatic variability and sea-level fluctuations. This study presents integrated Rare Earth Element (REE) geochemical and sedimentological analyses of sediments from core DZQ01 in the western BS. The mean ΣREE concentration of 178.78 μg/g is characterized by pronounced light REE (LREE) enrichment relative to heavy REE (HREE). Chondrite- and upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized patterns exhibit distinct negative Eu anomalies, variable Ce anomalies, marked LREE enrichment, and pronounced LREE/HREE fractionation. Grain size exerts the dominant control on REE distribution, whereas the weak correlation between HREE fractionation parameter indices (e.g., Gd/Yb) and redox-sensitive proxies (e.g., δEuUCC and δCeUCC) confirms their fidelity as provenance indicators. When integrated with the δEuUCC-δCeUCC diagram, discriminant functions, and paleoenvironmental proxies (Rb/Sr and Mg/Ca ratios), the data indicate that, during interglacial highstands, the Yellow River (YR) was the principal source, delivering fine-grained terrigenous material from the Loess Plateau and thereby elevating REE concentrations. Conversely, glacial lowstands shifted the depositional environment to subaerial conditions, with the YR, Hai River, and Luan River supplying a coarse-fine admixture. Multi-river provenance and dilution by coarse detritus collectively lowered REE concentrations during these intervals. Full article
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28 pages, 4848 KB  
Article
Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Soil Developed on Rhyolites in the Dry Tropical Area of Cameroon
by Aubin Nzeugang Nzeukou, Désiré Tsozué, Estelle Lionelle Tamto Mamdem, Merlin Gountié Dedzo and Nathalie Fagel
Standards 2025, 5(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5030020 - 6 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1108
Abstract
Petrological knowledge on weathering processes controlling the mobility of chemical elements is still limited in the dry tropical zone of Cameroon. This study aims to investigate the mobility of major and trace elements during rhyolite weathering and soil formation in Mobono by understanding [...] Read more.
Petrological knowledge on weathering processes controlling the mobility of chemical elements is still limited in the dry tropical zone of Cameroon. This study aims to investigate the mobility of major and trace elements during rhyolite weathering and soil formation in Mobono by understanding the mineralogical and elemental vertical variation. The studied soil was classified as Cambisols containing mainly quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, smectite, kaolinite, illite, calcite, lepidocrocite, goethite, sepiolite, and interstratified clay minerals. pH values ranging between 6.11 and 8.77 indicated that hydrolysis, superimposed on oxidation and carbonation, is the main process responsible for the formation of secondary minerals, leading to the formation of iron oxides and calcite. The bedrock was mainly constituted of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, Fe2O3, Ba, Zr, Sr, Y, Ga, and Rb. Ce and Eu anomalies, and chondrite-normalized La/Yb ratios were 0.98, 0.67, and 2.86, respectively. SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Na2O, and K2O were major elements in soil horizons. Trace elements revealed high levels of Ba (385 to 1320 mg kg−1), Zr (158 to 429 mg kg−1), Zn (61 to 151 mg kg−1), Sr (62 to 243 mg kg−1), Y (55 to 81 mg kg−1), Rb (1102 to 58 mg kg−1), and Ga (17.70 to 35 mg kg−1). LREEs were more abundant than HREEs, with LREE/HREE ratio ranging between 2.60 and 6.24. Ce and Eu anomalies ranged from 1.08 to 1.21 and 0.58 to 1.24 respectively. The rhyolite-normalized La/Yb ratios varied between 0.56 and 0.96. Mass balance revealed the depletion of Si, Ca, Na, Mn, Sr, Ta, W, U, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Lu, and the accumulation of Al, Fe, K, Mg, P, Sc, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rb, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Pb, Th, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb during weathering along the soil profile. Full article
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23 pages, 15718 KB  
Article
Trace and Rare-Earth-Element Chemistry of Quartz from the Tuztaşı Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Au-Ag Deposit, Western Türkiye: Implications for Gold Exploration from Quartz Mineral Chemistry
by Fatih Özbaş, Essaid Bilal and Ahmed Touil
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070758 - 19 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1704
Abstract
The Tuztaşı low-sulfidation epithermal Au–Ag deposit (Biga Peninsula, Türkiye) records a multi-stage hydrothermal history that can be interpreted through the trace and rare-earth-element (REE) chemistry of quartz. High-precision LA-ICP-MS analyses of five representative quartz samples (23 ablation spots; 10 analytically robust) reveal two [...] Read more.
The Tuztaşı low-sulfidation epithermal Au–Ag deposit (Biga Peninsula, Türkiye) records a multi-stage hydrothermal history that can be interpreted through the trace and rare-earth-element (REE) chemistry of quartz. High-precision LA-ICP-MS analyses of five representative quartz samples (23 ablation spots; 10 analytically robust) reveal two fluid stages. Early fluids were cold, dilute meteoric waters (δ18O₍H2O₎ ≈ −6.8 to +0.7‰), whereas later fluids circulated deeper, interacted with felsic basement rocks, and evolved in composition. Mineralized quartz displays marked enrichment in As (raw mean = 2854 ± 6821 ppm; filtered mean = 70 ± 93 ppm; one spot 16,775 ppm), K (498 ± 179 ppm), and Sb (57.8 ± 113 ppm), coupled with low Ti/Al (<0.005) and elevated Ge/Si (0.14–0.65 µmol mol−1). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show pronounced but variable LREE enrichment ((La/Yb)n ≤ 45.3; ΣLREE/ΣHREE up to 10.8) and strongly positive Eu anomalies (δEu ≤ 9.3) with slightly negative Ce anomalies (δCe ≈ 0.29); negligible Ce–Eu covariance (r2 ≈ 0.05) indicates discrete redox pulses. These signatures indicate chemically evolved, reducing fluids conducive to Au–Ag deposition. By contrast, barren quartz is characterized by lower pathfinder-element contents, less fractionated REE profiles, higher Ti/Al, and weaker Eu anomalies. A composite exploration toolkit emerges: As > 700 ppm, As/Sb > 25, Ti/Al < 0.005, Ge/Si > 0.15 µmol mol−1, and δEu ≫ 1 reliably identify ore-bearing zones when integrated with δ18O data and fluid-inclusion microthermometry from earlier studies on the same vein system. This study provides one of the first systematic applications of integrated trace-element and REE analysis of quartz to a Turkish low-sulfidation epithermal system, offering an applicable model for vectoring mineralization in analogous settings worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
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17 pages, 1582 KB  
Article
Rare Earth Elements in Tropical Agricultural Soils: Assessing the Influence of Land Use, Parent Material, and Soil Properties
by Gabriel Ribeiro Castellano, Juliana Silveira dos Santos, Melina Borges Teixeira Zanatta, Rafael Souza Cruz Alves, Zigomar Menezes de Souza, Milton Cesar Ribeiro and Amauri Antonio Menegário
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071741 - 19 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1337
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging soil contaminants due to increasing fertilizer use, mining activities, and technological applications. However, few studies have assessed their concentrations in soils or associated environmental risks. Here, we evaluate the influence of land cover types (Eucalyptus plantation, forest, [...] Read more.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging soil contaminants due to increasing fertilizer use, mining activities, and technological applications. However, few studies have assessed their concentrations in soils or associated environmental risks. Here, we evaluate the influence of land cover types (Eucalyptus plantation, forest, and pasture), parent material, and soil physicochemical properties (predictor variables) on REE content in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and measure pseudo-total REE content using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Differences in REE content across land cover types, parent materials, and soil properties were assessed using similarity and variance analyses (ANOSIM, ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis) followed by post hoc tests (Tukey HSD and Dunn’s). We used model selection based on the Akaike criterion (ΔAICc < 2) to determine the influence of predictor variables on REE content. Our results showed that parent materials (igneous and metamorphic rocks) were the best predictors, yielding plausible models (Adj R2 ≥ 0.3) for Y, δEu, and LaN/SaN. In contrast, Ca:Mg alone provided a plausible model (Adj R2 = 0.15) for δCe anomalies, while clay content (Adj R2 = 0.11) influenced the SaN/YbN ratio, though soil properties had weaker effects than parent materials. However, we found no evidence that Eucalyptus plantations or pastures under non-intensive management increase REE content in Brazilian Atlantic Forest soils. Full article
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23 pages, 25056 KB  
Article
Mineral Chemistry and Whole-Rock Analysis of Magnesian and Ferroan Granitic Suites of Magal Gebreel, South Eastern Desert: Clues for Neoproterozoic Syn- and Post-Collisional Felsic Magmatism
by El Saeed R. Lasheen, Gehad M. Saleh, Amira El-Tohamy, Farrage M. Khaleal, Mabrouk Sami, Ioan V. Sanislav and Fathy Abdalla
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070751 - 17 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 935
Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Magal Gebreel granitic suites (MGGs) using petrological (fieldwork, petrography, mineral chemistry, and bulk rock analysis) aspects to infer their petrogenesis and emplacement setting. Our understanding of the development of the northern portion of the Arabian [...] Read more.
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Magal Gebreel granitic suites (MGGs) using petrological (fieldwork, petrography, mineral chemistry, and bulk rock analysis) aspects to infer their petrogenesis and emplacement setting. Our understanding of the development of the northern portion of the Arabian Nubian Shield is significantly improved by the Neoproterozoic granitic rocks of the seldom studied MGGs in Egypt’s south Eastern Desert. According to detailed field, mineralogical, and geochemical assessments, they comprise syn-collision (granodiorites) and post-collision (monzogranites, syenogranites, and alkali feldspar rocks). Granodiorite has strong positive Pb, notable negative P, Ti, and Nb anomalies, and is magnesian in composition. They have high content of LREEs (light rare-earth elements) compared to HREEs (heavy rare-earth elements) and clear elevation of LFSEs (low-field strength elements; K Rb, and Ba) compared to HFSEs (high-field strength elements; Zr and Nb), which are in accord with the contents of I-type granites from the Eastern Desert. In this context, the granodiorites are indicative of an early magmatic phase that probably resulted from the partial melting of high K-mafic sources in the subduction zone. Conversely, the post-collision rocks have low contents of Mg#, CaO, P2O5, MgO, Fe2O3, Sr, and Ti, and high SiO2, Fe2O3/MgO, Nb, Ce, and Ga/Al, suggesting A-type features with ferroan affinity. Their P, Nb, Sr, Ba, and Ti negative anomalies are in accord with the findings for Eastern Desert granites of the A2-type. Furthermore, they exhibit a prominent negative anomaly in Eu and a small elevation of LREEs in relation to HREEs. The oxygen fugacity (fO2) for the rocks under investigation can be calculated using the biotite chemistry. The narrow Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio range (0.6–0.75) indicates that they crystallized under moderately oxidizing conditions between ~QFM +0.1 and QFM +1. The A-type rocks were formed by the partial melting of a tonalite source (underplating rocks) in a post-collisional environment during the late period of extension via slab delamination. The lithosphere became somewhat impregnated with particular elements as a result of the interaction between the deeper crust and the upwelling mantle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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