RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN FELSIC VOLCANIC ROCKS ASSOCIATED WITH Cu-Zn MASSIVE SULPHIDE MINERALIZATION.

Abstract

A study of host felsic volcanic rocks and alteration pipes associated with Cu-Zn massive sulfide deposits has produced no evidence of rare earth elements (REE) mobility in the felsic volcanic rocks adjacent to massive sulfide deposits. However they can be mobile in the alteration pipes below the orebodies. Where REE mobility has been observed, all of the REE are leached from the system. Preliminary data suggest that REE mobility increases with the size of the deposit. Thus REE mobility is potentially a method of identifying large massive sulfide deposits at an early stage in exploration. Show more