The rare earth element (REE) mineralisation potential of highly fractionated rhyolites: A potential low-grade, bulk tonnage source of critical metals

摘要: Abstract The rare earth elements (REE) have become crucial for modern industry, technology and medicine, with the increase in demand these over past few years currently being met by relatively well-known mineral deposits. This lack of a secure supply REE has led to increased research into potential alternative sources elements. primary fractionation processes involved petrogenesis highly fractionated high-silica rhyolites can cause magmas that form units preferentially enriched REE, especially more valuable heavy (HREE), although this is dependent on assemblages system question, factor turn function source tectonic setting given magmatic event. mineralogy also important, volatile exsolution vapour-phase activity within evolved rhyolite systems potentially having key role concentrating other concentrations (and importantly acid leachable therefore processable minerals) may be economically viable extract. This, combined fact are often critical and/or important metals (e.g., Y, Nb, Ta, Be, Li, F, Sn, Rb, Th, U) means volcanic should considered as metals. In addition, large volume nature they frequently crop out at Earth’s surface makes them ideally suited economical bulk open pit extraction. suggests REE-enriched analogues bulk-tonnage, low-grade porphyry Cu deposits, warranting further investigation determine whether new (especially HREE) targets future exploration.