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Refertilized continental root controls the formation of the Mianning–Dechang carbonatite-associated rare-earth-element ore system

Authors :
Zeng-Qian Hou
Bo Xu
Haijiang Zhang
Yuan-Chuan Zheng
Rui Wang
Yan Liu
Zhuang Miao
Lei Gao
Zhidan Zhao
William L. Griffin
Suzanne Y. O’Reilly
Source :
Communications Earth & Environment, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Nature Portfolio, 2023.

Abstract

Abstract Rare earth element ore deposits associated with carbonatite derived from Earth’s mantle supply half of the world’s rare earth element. However, the formation of carbonatite and initial enrichment and transport of rare earth element in the mantle, is unclear. Here, we image the lithospheric architecture of a Cenozoic rare earth element ore belt in southwestern China by integrating seismic tomography with geochemical data. The subduction of the Indian continent caused vertical upwelling and lateral flow of the asthenosphere, which triggered the melting of the overlying subcontinental lithospheric mantle to generate carbonatites. Such a mantle source that previously metasomatized by fluids from recycled marine sediments is a precursor process critical for forming a giant rare earth element system. For the studied ore belt, three key factors are prerequisites to generating ore-forming carbonatites: thick lithosphere with a continental root; prior fertilization of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle; and trans-lithospheric weakness for magma ascent.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26624435
Volume :
4
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Communications Earth & Environment
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2512660905c45b48bd03b66b6ccf122
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00956-6