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#           The Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia: A carbonatite-derived laterite      

      November 1, 2023    

Carbonatite-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposits are the primary source of the world’s light REEs and have the potential to be a source of heavy REEs. The Mount Weld REE deposit in Western Australia is hosted in a lateritic sequence that reflects supergene enrichment of the underlying carbonatite complex. Similar to other carbonatite-related ore deposits, ore from Mount Weld displays extreme light REE (LREE) enrichment (La up to 4 wt. %), but in contrast also contains substantially higher concentrations of heavy REEs (HREEs). REE enrichment in the laterite is controlled by the breakdown of primary minerals, the release and transport of REEs, and the formation of secondary minerals. Secondary REE-bearing phosphate minerals are the primary REE-host phases in the laterite ore with monazite as the dominant phase; other REE-bearing phases include rhabdophane, cerianite, churchite, florencite, and crandallite subgroup minerals. Profiles through the laterite show that in the REE-rich zone, apatite and primary calcite have broken down, and dolomite decreases by approximately 60-100%, such that the loss of Ca and Mg, as well as Si and K, leads to a relative increase in the REEs. Sequestering of REEs in secondary mineral phases formed by groundwater further enhances the REE concentration. 

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#### Philip L Verplanck

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

plv@usgs.gov

303-236-1902

#### Heather A Lowers

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Denver Microbeam Laboratory

hlowers@usgs.gov

303-236-1184

#### Adam Boehlke

##### Geologist

Central Energy Resources Science Center

aboehlke@usgs.gov

303-236-1629

#### Jay M. Thompson, Ph.D.

##### Physical Scientist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

jmthompson@usgs.gov

#### Cameron M. Mercer, Ph.D.

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

cmmercer@usgs.gov

## Related Content

#### Philip L Verplanck

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

plv@usgs.gov

303-236-1902

#### Heather A Lowers

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Denver Microbeam Laboratory

hlowers@usgs.gov

303-236-1184

#### Adam Boehlke

##### Geologist

Central Energy Resources Science Center

aboehlke@usgs.gov

303-236-1629

#### Jay M. Thompson, Ph.D.

##### Physical Scientist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

jmthompson@usgs.gov

#### Cameron M. Mercer, Ph.D.

##### Research Geologist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

cmmercer@usgs.gov

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