Research on Prospecting Direction of Ion-Adsorption Type Heavy Rare Earth Element Resources in Guangxi and Progresses in Scientific Demonstration Exploration
The ion-adsorption type REE deposit is a critical mineral resource in China that has a great impact on international REE supply.Guangxi,as one of the major provinces in southern China that developing the ion-adsorption type REE,has numerous deposits and abundant reserves.However,when examining the mineralization classification,the majority of the REE deposits in Guangxi is categorized as LREE-type,with fewer of the HREE-type.To bolster Guangxi's reserves of HREE,it conducted a wide screening of potential prospecting directions and proposed that a newly reported LREE+HREE overlapping type deposit could serve as a breakthrough target.Furthermore,it selected a demonstration district located in Jiaping,Lingshan County,to conduct integrated work encompassing both scientific research and mineral exploration.The results reveal that,in addition to the common LREE-type mineralization,the LREE+HREE overlapping-type mineralization is also found in the demonstration district,characterized by a dual-layer mineralization structure with"upper LREE ore and lower HREE ore".Both two mineralization types share similar parent rock conditions,which are associated with medium to coarse-grained biotite monzonitic-granodioritic granite with high total REE content(ΣREE>260×10-6),low to moderate LREE distribution(1<LREE/HREE<4),and rich in easily weathered REE-bearing accessory minerals.However,compared to the LREE-type,the LREE+HREE overlapping-type tends to be developed in some special geomorphological-hydrological locations,where thick regolith and strong soil water infiltration exist.This preferred exogenous environment could provide more favorable spatial and dynamic conditions for the happening of long-distance migration of REE,enhancing the differentiation effect between LREE and HREE due to their different behaviors.More mobile HREE,compared to LREE,tend to migrate to the lower part of the regolith profile,ultimately giving rise to the"upper LREE ore and lower HREE ore"dual-layer mineralization structure.Guided by the ore-forming theory mentioned above,it adjusted the conventional prospecting methods through diluting exploration spacing overall and increasing drilling validation locally,which enable to have yielded substantial practical progress.The discovery of HREE resources has reached a medium-sized scale,making it a good reference case for guiding HREE exploration not only in Guangxi but throughout South China.
HREEion-adsorption type REE depositweathering mineralizationscientific demonstration explorationprospecting breakthrough
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