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Towards a process-based understanding of rare-earth element deposits

对稀土元素矿床的基于过程的理解

基本信息

批准号：
MR/V02292X/1
负责人：
Owen Weller
金额：
$ 175.12万
依托单位：
University of Cambridge
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Fellowship
财政年份：
2022
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2022 至无数据
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR%2FV02292X%2F1
关键词：
Towards process based understanding rare

项目摘要

This research relates to a set of 17 elements called the rare-earth elements (REEs), which form an essential component of the high-tech devices on which modern society depends. Perhaps most importantly, REEs are integral to emerging green technologies such as wind turbines, batteries and photovoltaic cells; technologies that will be crucial in addressing the climate crisis, since the energy sector is the largest single contributor to human greenhouse gas emissions. Our reliance on electronics and the development of renewable energy sources is driving rapid increases in the demand for REEs. However, global production is restricted to relatively few REE deposits, with 90% originating in China. Consequently, there are significant concerns over both the capacity to respond to increased REE demand, and the security of access to these vital resources. Finding new and diverse sources of REEs is therefore essential to maintain our way of life and facilitate our transition to a low-carbon future.The most important sources of REEs are within 'carbonatite' and 'alkaline' igneous rocks. These rocks form deep in the Earth as magmas, which then ascend and solidify at shallower depths, concentrating REEs that eventually become exposed on the Earth's surface. However, the exact formation processes that lead to their enrichment in REEs are poorly understood, and their small size on the surface makes them extremely hard to find. This project will increase our understanding of these rocks, and develop a novel tool to efficiently locate future REE deposits associated with these rock types, using a three-step process.The first step in my research project will develop a computational tool to model how carbonatite and alkaline igneous rocks form. This tool can be used to improve our understanding of, and predict the distribution of, these REE-bearing igneous rocks on Earth.The second step of my research will lay the foundations for locating REE deposits, by analysing the characteristic 'patterns' that their formation leaves on the surrounding geology. When carbonatite and alkaline rocks solidify at shallower depths they alter the surrounding 'country rock', creating alteration zones termed 'fenites'. These fenites have complex structures and textures and are not well understood. By developing a robust understanding of fenites, we can use them as 'signposts' for elusive REE deposits, as the fenite zones are larger and easier to find than the REE-bearing igneous rocks that create them. To accomplish this, I will conduct a detailed study of two well-known fenite zones that exhibit varying structures and textures. By combining structural and chemical observations with my computational models, I will build a holistic understanding of their formation and REE enrichment. This new understanding of the emplacement of REE-bearing igneous rocks and the formation of fenites will enable the final stage of my project: developing new ways of finding REE deposits using remote sensing (airborne) techniques. These techniques, which I will develop alongside industrial partners, will search for fenite zones as signposts for the REE deposits that are associated with them. This methodology is likely to be particularly beneficial in locating REE deposits in hitherto poorly explored, but emerging frontiers, such as the Arctic and East Africa.

这项研究涉及一组称为稀土元素（RE）的17种元素，它们是现代社会所依赖的高科技设备的重要组成部分。也许最重要的是，可再生能源是风力涡轮机、电池和光伏电池等新兴绿色技术不可或缺的一部分;这些技术对解决气候危机至关重要，因为能源部门是人类温室气体排放的最大贡献者。我们对电子产品的依赖和可再生能源的发展正在推动对稀土需求的快速增长。然而，全球生产仅限于相对较少的稀土矿床，其中90%来自中国。因此，人们对应对日益增长的稀土需求的能力以及获得这些重要资源的安全性表示严重关切。因此，寻找新的、多样化的稀土元素来源对于维持我们的生活方式和促进我们向低碳未来的过渡至关重要。稀土元素最重要的来源是“碳酸盐岩”和“碱性”火成岩。这些岩石在地球深处形成岩浆，然后上升并在较浅的深度固化，浓缩稀土元素，最终暴露在地球表面。然而，导致它们富集稀土元素的确切形成过程却知之甚少，而且它们在表面上的小尺寸使它们极难被发现。该项目将增加我们对这些岩石的了解，并开发一种新的工具，以有效地定位未来与这些岩石类型相关的稀土矿床，使用三步过程。我的研究项目的第一步将开发一种计算工具，以模拟碳酸盐岩和碱性火成岩的形成。这个工具可以用来提高我们对地球上这些含稀土火成岩的认识和预测其分布。我的研究的第二步将通过分析稀土矿床的形成给周围地质留下的特征“模式”，为定位稀土矿床奠定基础。当碳酸盐岩和碱性岩石在较浅的深度固化时，它们会改变周围的“围岩”，形成称为“fenites”的蚀变带。这些fenites具有复杂的结构和纹理，并没有得到很好的理解。通过发展对fenite的强大理解，我们可以将它们用作难以捉摸的REE矿床的“路标”，因为fenite区比产生它们的含REE火成岩更大，更容易找到。为了实现这一点，我将进行详细的研究，两个著名的fenite区，表现出不同的结构和纹理。通过将结构和化学观察与我的计算模型相结合，我将对它们的形成和REE富集建立一个全面的理解。这种新的认识的含稀土火成岩的定位和形成的fenites将使我的项目的最后阶段：开发新的方法来寻找稀土矿床使用遥感（航空）技术。这些技术，我将与工业合作伙伴一起开发，将寻找fenite区作为与之相关的REE矿床的路标。这种方法可能是特别有益的稀土矿床定位在迄今为止勘探不足，但新兴的前沿，如北极和东非。