The surface geochemistry techniques widely employed during the 1960’s to 1980’s are effective at discovering near-surface deposits, but are largely ineffective for exploring under deep cover or for deep extensions of known mineralisation in a near-mine environment. Instead, mineral explorers must focus their attention on rapidly aggregating and synthesising disparate data to build into holistic...

Most rare earth element deposits form from magmatic fluids, but there have also been discoveries of heavy rare earth element (HREE)– enriched hydrothermal xenotime deposits within sedimentary basins. As xenotime is notoriously insoluble, the question arises as to whether these lesser-known deposits form at typical basin temperatures or by influx of much hotter magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The ...