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Refertilized continental root controls the formation of the Mianning–Dechang carbonatite-associated rare-earth-element ore system
- 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.
- Subjects :
- Geology
QE1-996.5
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Subjects
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