Weathering of carbonatite REE deposits (WREED): a critical stage in generation of critical metal resources.

碳酸岩稀土矿床的风化（WREED）：关键金属资源生成的关键阶段。

• 批准号: NE/V008935/1
• 负责人: Martin Smith
• 金额: $ 10.25万
• 依托单位: University of Brighton
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FV008935%2F1
• 关键词: Weathering; carbonatite; REE; deposits; WREED

The rare earth elements (REE) are classified as critical metals because they are essential for renewable energy technology such as wind turbines, and for the development of electric motors for low carbon transport. Current government policies in the UK and globally are driving an expansion in use of these technologies, but the supply of the metals needed is currently limited and the increase in use cannot be met from exisiting raw material sources or recycling. There is therefore a need to investigate the formation of mineral resources for these metals, to determine the potential for new resources, and to improve efficiency and minimise environment impact in their extraction. Currently the REE are mainly extracted and processed in China, and the Universities of Brighton and Exeter currently have research links with Peking Univeristy in this area. This project aims to build and expand this research network, primarily by developing a new collaboration with the State Key Laboratory for Geological Processes and Mineral resources in Wuhan, and then by running workshops involving researchers from China and the rest of world, to define key research problems in the area, and build an international team to address them. A primary focus of the parternship will be to study processes of enrichment and separation of the REE during weathering of carbonatites (igneous carbonatite rocks). Current global REE supply is met from unweathered bedrock deposits in carbonatites, or from weather grantic rocks (sometimes called ion adsorption deposits). However, weathered carbonatites have some of the highest concentrations of the REE, and preliminary data from the Lizhuan carbonatite in China suggest that they may combine characteristics of carbonatite and ion adsorption deposits. This means there may be potential for developing lower environmental imapct (energy cost) ways of extracting the REE from these deposits. The project will study the mineralogy and geochemistry of these deposits, and use the data collected as the basis for setting up new international projects to further develop research on REE resources.

稀土元素（REE）被归类为关键金属，因为它们对风力涡轮机等可再生能源技术和低碳运输电动机的开发至关重要。目前英国和全球的政府政策正在推动这些技术的使用，但所需金属的供应目前是有限的，而且现有的原材料来源或回收无法满足使用量的增加。因此，有必要调查这些金属的矿物资源的形成，确定新资源的潜力，并提高其开采的效率和尽量减少对环境的影响。目前稀土元素主要在中国进行提取和加工，布莱顿大学和埃克塞特大学目前与北京大学在这一领域有研究联系。本项目旨在建立和扩大这一研究网络，主要是通过与武汉地质过程与矿产资源国家重点实验室建立新的合作关系，然后通过举办研讨会，吸引来自中国和世界其他国家的研究人员，确定该领域的关键研究问题，并建立一个国际团队来解决这些问题。合作的主要重点将是研究碳酸盐岩（火成岩碳酸盐岩）风化过程中稀土元素的富集和分离过程。目前全球稀土供应来自未风化的碳酸盐基岩矿床，或来自风化花岗质岩石（有时称为离子吸附矿床）。然而，风化碳酸盐中稀土元素的含量最高，中国历篆碳酸盐的初步数据表明，它们可能结合了碳酸盐和离子吸附矿床的特征。这意味着有可能开发出从这些矿床中提取稀土元素的低环境影响（能源成本）方法。该项目将研究这些矿床的矿物学和地球化学，并将收集到的数据作为设立新的国际项目的基础，以进一步发展稀土资源的研究。

项目成果

Origin of carbonatite-related niobium deposits: Insights from pyrochlore geochemistry

与碳酸岩有关的铌矿床的起源：烧绿石地球化学的见解

• DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2023.12.010
• 发表时间: 2024
• 期刊: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
• 影响因子: 5
• 作者: Velásquez-Ruiz F

Nanostructure reveals REE mineral crystallization mechanisms in granites from a heavy REE deposit, South China

纳米结构揭示了华南重稀土矿床花岗岩中的稀土矿物结晶机制

• DOI: 10.2138/am-2022-8309
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: American Mineralogist
• 影响因子: 3.1
• 作者: Shi A

Radiogenic and stable Sr isotope geochemistry of regolith hosted REE deposits: a preliminary report

风化层稀土矿床的放射性和稳定锶同位素地球化学：初步报告

• DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-3180
• 发表时间: 2023
• 作者: Pourkhorsandi H

The surface chemistry of carbonatite soils: Implications for REE resources.

碳酸盐土的表面化学：对稀土资源的影响。

• DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-13081
• 发表时间: 2023
• 作者: Smith M

Carbonatitic Magma Fractionation and Contamination Generate Rare Earth Element Enrichment and Mineralization in the Maoniuping Giant REE Deposit, SW China

牦牛坪巨型稀土矿床碳酸岩浆分异和污染导致稀土元素富集和矿化

• DOI: 10.1093/petrology/egad037
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Journal of Petrology
• 影响因子: 3.9
• 作者: Zheng X