Publisher © Czech Geological Survey, ISSN: 2336-5757 (online), 0514-8057 (print)
Miaoya – the northernmost occurrence of residual deposits associated with REE clays in China
Abstract
Residual REE (rare earth elements) clays are a unique deposit type originated by lateritic weathering of predominantly feldspar rich rocks with accessory content of REE minerals. This deposit type was first described in southern China. Residual clay deposits represent very important source of high demand heavy REE. The parental deposit Miaoya is composed mainly of large intrusions of magmatic carbonatites and syenites. These rocks are enriched in REE and Nb contained in their accessory minerals. Carbonatites penetrate the massif of alkaline syenite. The REE deposit should be actually prepared for mining in open pit style; the presence of REE-rich residual deposits opens up also the possibility of chemical extraction of REE in situ. This paper provides data of basic research of primary rocks and the first information about actually rediscovered clays (mineralogy, REE hosts and detailed geochemical analysis of residual crusts).
