Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY
The rare earth elements and yttrium (REY)-enriched phosphorites in the Zhijin region, southwest China, have attracted much attention, yet its origin has not been sufficiently addressed. The geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of samples from four sections of the early Cambrian age from the Zhijin r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-03-01
|
| Series: | Minerals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/408 |
| _version_ | 1797409972538048512 |
|---|---|
| author | Shan He Yong Xia Jiafei Xiao Daniel Gregory Zhuojun Xie Qinping Tan Haiying Yang Haiyan Guo Shengwei Wu Xingxiang Gong |
| author_facet | Shan He Yong Xia Jiafei Xiao Daniel Gregory Zhuojun Xie Qinping Tan Haiying Yang Haiyan Guo Shengwei Wu Xingxiang Gong |
| author_sort | Shan He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rare earth elements and yttrium (REY)-enriched phosphorites in the Zhijin region, southwest China, have attracted much attention, yet its origin has not been sufficiently addressed. The geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of samples from four sections of the early Cambrian age from the Zhijin region were studied to attain the redox condition and origin of REY. Data from in situ analysis show that REY are mainly contained in francolite, and the two types of francolite (bioclastic and granular) have no distinct difference in REY content (ΣREY). A Ce anomaly indicates an oxic condition in primary seawater. An Eu anomaly and ratios of redox sensitive elements (RSEs) indicate a fluctuating redox condition during phosphorite deposition. Shale-normalized REY patterns of whole rock and francolite show a hat-shaped pattern, indicating the effect of diagenetic processes. The Y/Ho ratio of the selected sections ranges from 38.13 to 61.93, and together with the Y anomaly, La<sub>N</sub>/Nd<sub>N</sub> ratio, La<sub>N</sub>/Sm<sub>N</sub> ratio, and La<sub>N</sub>/Yb<sub>N</sub> ratio, this indicates a seawater origin. This is supported by the Ce/Ce* of the phosphorite that ranges from 0.32 to 0.52 and the Eu/Eu* that ranges from 0.88 to 1.82, which is similar to the characteristics of seawater and deep-sea mud. We also propose a minor contribution of terrigenous debris and influence of diagenesis and hydrothermal processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:22:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a69abb06e06e4cfb8db0600a3d0dffc2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:22:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a69abb06e06e4cfb8db0600a3d0dffc22023-12-03T13:45:32ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-03-0112440810.3390/min12040408Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REYShan He0Yong Xia1Jiafei Xiao2Daniel Gregory3Zhuojun Xie4Qinping Tan5Haiying Yang6Haiyan Guo7Shengwei Wu8Xingxiang Gong9State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Earth Sciences Centre, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B1, CanadaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaThe rare earth elements and yttrium (REY)-enriched phosphorites in the Zhijin region, southwest China, have attracted much attention, yet its origin has not been sufficiently addressed. The geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of samples from four sections of the early Cambrian age from the Zhijin region were studied to attain the redox condition and origin of REY. Data from in situ analysis show that REY are mainly contained in francolite, and the two types of francolite (bioclastic and granular) have no distinct difference in REY content (ΣREY). A Ce anomaly indicates an oxic condition in primary seawater. An Eu anomaly and ratios of redox sensitive elements (RSEs) indicate a fluctuating redox condition during phosphorite deposition. Shale-normalized REY patterns of whole rock and francolite show a hat-shaped pattern, indicating the effect of diagenetic processes. The Y/Ho ratio of the selected sections ranges from 38.13 to 61.93, and together with the Y anomaly, La<sub>N</sub>/Nd<sub>N</sub> ratio, La<sub>N</sub>/Sm<sub>N</sub> ratio, and La<sub>N</sub>/Yb<sub>N</sub> ratio, this indicates a seawater origin. This is supported by the Ce/Ce* of the phosphorite that ranges from 0.32 to 0.52 and the Eu/Eu* that ranges from 0.88 to 1.82, which is similar to the characteristics of seawater and deep-sea mud. We also propose a minor contribution of terrigenous debris and influence of diagenesis and hydrothermal processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/408rare earth elements and yttriumphosphoritesfrancoliteGezhongwu formationorigin |
| spellingShingle | Shan He Yong Xia Jiafei Xiao Daniel Gregory Zhuojun Xie Qinping Tan Haiying Yang Haiyan Guo Shengwei Wu Xingxiang Gong Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY Minerals rare earth elements and yttrium phosphorites francolite Gezhongwu formation origin |
| title | Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY |
| title_full | Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY |
| title_fullStr | Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY |
| title_short | Geochemistry of REY-Enriched Phosphorites in Zhijin Region, Guizhou Province, SW China: Insight into the Origin of REY |
| title_sort | geochemistry of rey enriched phosphorites in zhijin region guizhou province sw china insight into the origin of rey |
| topic | rare earth elements and yttrium phosphorites francolite Gezhongwu formation origin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/408 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shanhe geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT yongxia geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT jiafeixiao geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT danielgregory geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT zhuojunxie geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT qinpingtan geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT haiyingyang geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT haiyanguo geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT shengweiwu geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey AT xingxianggong geochemistryofreyenrichedphosphoritesinzhijinregionguizhouprovinceswchinainsightintotheoriginofrey |