Enrichment process of phosphorite type REY based on the structure and geochemical features of the Zhijin Xinhua phosphorite in China

作者：Man Wang, Hong Xie, Changjian Wang, Zhi Li, Chenglong Yang, Yuhang Wang · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-025-05612-x · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis、Geological and Geochemical Analysis、Radioactive element chemistry and processing

In response to the insufficiently in-depth and systematic studies on the enrichment processes of phosphorite-type rare earths (REE), this study takes the recently discovered Early Cambrian Xinhua rare earth-phosphate composite deposit in Zhijin, Guizhou, as a case example. Building on detailed field investigations, this study conducts an in-depth analysis of the ore's structures. Employing a suite of analytical techniques, including X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) testing, and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we meticulously delineate the sourcing, transportation, and storage processes of REE. The results demonstrate that the phosphorite-type rare earth ore has a typical particle structure. Biological waste comprises most of the particle composition, followed by sand debris, and agglomerates. There are two types of cementation and support, one is contact-pore cementation, particle support; the other is base-pore cementation, matrix-particle support. Phosphorite-type rare earth ore is classified into two types: phosphorus-rich rare earth ore and phosphorus rare earth ore. The ore minerals are all apatite, which highly concentrates rare earth elements and yttrium (REY), with average contents of 1187.16 ppm and 376.92 ppm, respectively. Rare earth elements may be mainly adsorbed by cryptocrystalline-amorphous collophane or exist in the lattice defects of microcryst...