Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on the Occurrence Forms of REEs in Carboniferous Karst Bauxite, Central Guizhou Province, Southwest China: A Case Study of Lindai Bauxite

Karst bauxite is a major source of aluminum and contains high concentrations trace elements such as Li, Ga, Sc, rare earth (REEs). It regarded potential non-conventional REE due to the increasing demand for REEs. This study provides new mineralogical geochemical evidence Lindai deposit in central Guizhou Province, aiming analyze genesis minerals reveal forms REEs occurring these deposits. The results indicate that large number detrital authigenic rare-earth phosphate minerals, including monazite xenotime, were identified. In terms their genesis, was mainly precipitated under alkaline reducing conditions, whereas xenotime formed acidic conditions. detected by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) suggests exhibit multiple forms, (monazite xenotime) scavenging hematite anatase phases. Among them, controls some LREE (such La, Ce, Pr) distributions addition monazite, also relatively amounts Sm, Eu, HREE Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu) distributions. According calculation percentage REE-bearing mineral phases obtained TIMA analysis, accounted 93.28% all REEs, 5.88%, 0.67%, 0.17%. Carboniferous karst Province.