Evaluating the fractionation of ion-adsorption rare earths for in-situ leaching and metallogenic mechanism

The fractionation of ion adsorption rare earths (IAREs) along the depth in a shaft of a deposit at Dajishan, Jiangxi, China was comparatively evaluated using the partition values (PVs) and relative fractionation values (RFVs) of the leached rare earths (REs). It is found that both PVs and RFVs can objectively reflect the migration and fractionation of REs, but RE content and abrasion pH could not. However, the RFVs can provide more information to quantitatively evaluating the migration and fractionation characteristics of REs along the selected direction and region than PVs could, which is of significance for designing the optimal procedures of in situ leaching based on the determined flow direction of injecting solution. It is demonstrated that the migration of Ce, Pr, and Nd along the depth direction is inert, and that of REs post Sm and Y is active. Meanwhile, the migration of La shows region characteristics which is active in the upper and inert in lower region. More interesting, the dependence of RFVs on atomic number of REs displays a tetrad group variation trend. However, the fractionation of REs among clay minerals with different particle sizes is not evident, especially for the clay in the bottom region. These results indicate that the migration and fractionation of REs not only are dominated by the adsorption of their hydrated ions, but also rely on their hydrolysis tendency, which provide information for understanding the metallogenic mechanism of IAREs. (C) 2018 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.