Carbonatites and Alkaline Igneous Rocks in Post-Collisional Settings: Storehouses of Rare Earth Elements

Abstract The rare earth elements (REE) are critical raw materials for much of modern technology, particularly renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicles that vital the transition. Many world’s largest REE deposits occur in alkaline rocks carbonatites, which found intracontinental, rift-related settings, also syn- to post-collisional settings. Post-collisional settings host significant deposits, such as those Mianning-Dechang belt China. This paper reviews mineralization alkaline-carbonatite complexes worldwide, order demonstrate some key physical chemical features these deposits. We use three examples, Scotland, Namibia, Turkey, illustrate structure systems. review published geochemical data build up a broad model mineral system complexes. It is evident immiscibility carbonate-rich magmas fluids plays an important part generating with REE, Ba F partitioning into phase. most occurs shallow-level, carbothermal or carbonatite intrusions, but deeper bodies associated alteration zones may have enrichment.