skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Hydrothermal transport, deposition, and fractionation of the REE: Experimental data and thermodynamic calculations

Journal Article · · Chemical Geology

For many years, our understanding of the behavior of the REE in hydrothermal systems was based on semi-empirical estimates involving extrapolation of thermodynamic data obtained at 25 °C. Since then, a substantial body of experimental data has accumulated on the stability of aqueous complexes of the REE. These data have shown that some of the predictions of Haas et al. (1995) are accurate, but others may be in error by several orders of magnitude. However, application of the data in modeling hydrothermal transport and deposition of the REE has been severely hampered by the lack of data on the thermodynamic properties of even the most common REE minerals. The discrepancies between the predictions and experimental determinations of the thermodynamic properties of aqueous REE species, together with the paucity of data on the stability of REE minerals, raise serious questions about the reliability of some models that have been proposed for the hydrothermal mobility of these critical metals. In this contribution, we review a body of high-temperature experimental data collected over the past 15 years on the stability of REE aqueous species and minerals. Using this new thermodynamic dataset, we re-evaluate the mechanisms responsible for hydrothermal transport and deposition of the REE. We also discuss the mechanisms that can result in REE fractionation during their hydrothermal transport and deposition. Here, our calculations suggest that in hydrothermal solutions, the main REE transporting ligands are chloride and sulfate, whereas fluoride, carbonate, and phosphate likely play an important role as depositional ligands. In addition to crystallographic fractionation, which is based on the differing affinity of mineral structures for the REE, our models suggest that the REE can be fractionated hydrothermally due to the differences in the stability of the LREE and HREE as aqueous chloride complexes.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1351190
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-21989
Journal Information:
Chemical Geology, Vol. 439, Issue C; ISSN 0009-2541
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 268 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (118)

The role of fluorine in the concentration and transport of lithophile trace elements in felsic magmas: Insights from the Gawler Range Volcanics, South Australia journal May 2010
Rare earth elements in seawater: particle association, shale-normalization, and Ce oxidation journal February 1999
Solubility of Lanthanide Fluorides in Nitric Acid Solution in the Dissolution Process of FLUOREX Reprocessing System journal January 2004
REE composition of an aqueous magmatic fluid: A fluid inclusion study from the Capitan Pluton, New Mexico, U.S.A. journal April 1994
Fluid Evolution and Origins of Iron Oxide Cu-Au Prospects in the Olympic Dam District, Gawler Craton, South Australia journal December 2007
Rare-earth element mobility during hydrothermal and metamorphic fluid-rock interaction and the significance of the oxidation state of europium journal December 1991
Complex formation of trace elements in geochemical systems: stability constants of fluorocomplexes of the lanthanides in a fluorite bearing model system up to 200 °C and 1000 bar journal December 1987
Thermodynamics of rare earth element partitioning between clinopyroxene and melt in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 journal January 1996
The Oxidation State of Europium in Hydrothermal Scheelite: in situ Measurement by Xanes Spectroscopy journal October 2006
Oxidation state of europium in scheelite: Tracking fluid–rock interaction in gold deposits journal November 2008
Inhomogeneous distribution of REE in scheelite and dynamics of Archaean hydrothermal systems (Mt. Charlotte and Drysdale gold deposits, Western Australia) journal July 2000
Origins of Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic variations in single scheelite grains from Archaean gold deposits, Western Australia journal February 2002
The effect of oxygen fugacity, melt composition, temperature and pressure on the oxidation state of cerium in silicate melts journal February 2014
The hydration properties of Eu(II) and Eu(III): An ab initio quantum mechanical molecular dynamics study journal January 2015
The aqueous geochemistry of the rare earth elements. Part XIV. The solubility of rare earth element phosphates from 23 to 150 °C journal April 2005
Host-rock controlled epigenetic, hydrothermal metasomatic origin of the Bayan Obo REEFe-Nb ore deposit, Inner Mongolia, P.R.C. journal September 1992
Mineral chemistry of Rare Earth Element (REE) mineralization, Browns Ranges, Western Australia journal July 2013
Hydration of Lanthanoids(III) and Actinoids(III): An Experimental/Theoretical Saga journal August 2012
Experimental study of La(OH)3 and Gd(OH)3 solubilities (25 to 150°C), and La–acetate complexing (25 to 80°C) journal October 1998
Standard thermodynamic properties and heat capacity equations of rare earth hydroxides: journal October 1998
REE Daughter Minerals Trapped in Fluid Inclusions in the Giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China journal July 2004
The aqueous geochemistry of the rare earth elements and yttrium: VI. Stability of neodymium chloride complexes from 25 to 300°C journal December 1996
Thermodynamic functions of erbium orthophosphate ErPO4 in the temperature range of 0–1600K journal May 2012
Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions of xenotime YPO4(c) at 0–1600 K journal September 2010
Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions of YbPO4 from 0 to 1800 K journal June 2013
Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions of LuPO4 in the range 0–320K journal September 2006
Geology, mineralogy and fluid inclusion data of the Kizilcaören fluorite–barite–REE deposit, Eskisehir, Turkey journal January 2003
Hydrothermal mobilization of pegmatite-hosted REE and Zr at Strange Lake, Canada: A reaction path model journal December 2013
The thermodynamic properties of bastnäsite-(Ce) and parisite-(Ce) journal January 2015
Experimental determination of the high temperature heat capacity of a natural xenotime-(Y) solid solution and synthetic DyPO4 and ErPO4 endmembers journal March 2016
The solubility of xenotime-(Y) and other HREE phosphates (DyPO 4 , ErPO 4 and YbPO 4 ) in aqueous solutions from 100 to 250 °C and p sat journal April 2015
Rare earth elements in hydrothermal systems: Estimates of standard partial molal thermodynamic properties of aqueous complexes of the rare earth elements at high pressures and temperatures journal November 1995
The lanthanum hydroxide fluoride carbonate system: The preparation of synthetic bastnaesite journal January 1975
Acidity constant of hydrofluoric acid journal July 1984
Theoretical prediction of the thermodynamic behavior of aqueous electrolytes by high pressures and temperatures; IV, Calculation of activity coefficients, osmotic coefficients, and apparent molal and standard and relative partial molal properties to 600 degrees C and 5kb journal December 1981
Geological characteristics and tectonic setting of proterozoic iron oxide (CuUAuREE) deposits journal October 1992
The ree Minerals of the Bastnas-Type Deposits, South-Central Sweden journal October 2007
Synthesis and stability of bastnaesites in a part of the system (Ce,La)-F-H-C-O journal January 1992
Determination of Solubility Products of Rare Earth Fluorides by Fluoride Ion-selective Electrode journal June 1984
SUPCRT92: A software package for calculating the standard molal thermodynamic properties of minerals, gases, aqueous species, and reactions from 1 to 5000 bar and 0 to 1000°C journal August 1992
Comparative hydrolysis behavior of the rare earths and yttrium: the influence of temperature and ionic strength journal January 2000
Thermodynamic properties of the lanthanide(III) halides book January 2003
The Thermodynamic Properties of the f -Elements and their Compounds. Part 2. The Lanthanide and Actinide Oxides journal March 2014
REE mineralization at Gakara, Burundi: Evidence for anomalous upper mantle in the western Rift Valley journal January 1994
Rare Earth Element Speciation in Geothermal Fluids from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA journal February 1998
Re-Os dating of pyrite from Giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit journal January 2004
Comparative carbonate complexation of yttrium and gadolinium at 25 °C and 0.7 mol dm−3 ionic strength journal December 1995
Rare earth and yttrium phosphate solubilities in aqueous solution journal April 1997
An experimental study of the aqueous solubility and speciation of Y(III) fluoride at temperatures up to 250°C journal December 2013
Hydrothermal controls on the genesis of REE deposits: Insights from an in situ XAS study of Yb solubility and speciation in high temperature fluids (T < 400 °C) journal December 2015
Structural Study of the N,N′ -Dimethylpropyleneurea Solvated Lanthanoid(III) Ions in Solution and Solid State with an Analysis of the Ionic Radii of Lanthanoid(III) Ions journal May 2010
Carbonate complexation of yttrium and the rare earth elements in natural waters journal February 2004
The Influence of Ionic Strength on Yttrium and Rare Earth Element Complexation by Fluoride Ions in NaClO4, NaNO3 and NaCl Solutions at 25 °C journal May 2007
Effects of temperature and ionic strength on the stabilities of the first and second fluoride complexes of yttrium and the rare earth elements journal November 2004
On the formation and structure of rare-earth element complexes in aqueous solutions under hydrothermal conditions with new data on gadolinium aqua and chloro complexes journal April 2007
Steric hindrance and the enhanced stability of light rare-earth elements in hydrothermal fluids journal October 2009
The structure and stability of aqueous rare-earth elements in hydrothermal fluids: New results on neodymium(III) aqua and chloroaqua complexes in aqueous solutions to 500 °C and 520 MPa journal February 2009
The Structure of Yb 3+ Aquo Ion and Chloro Complexes in Aqueous Solutions at Up to 500 °C and 270 MPa journal June 2002
Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation and free energy exploration of copper(I) complexation by chloride and bisulfide in hydrothermal fluids journal February 2013
Solubilities, solubility products and solution chemistry of lanthanon trifluoride–water systems
  • Menon, Manchery P.; James, Jeffrey
  • Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions 1: Physical Chemistry in Condensed Phases, Vol. 85, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1039/f19898502683
journal January 1989
Geology and geochemistry of the Snowbird Deposit, Mineral County, Montana journal April 1985
A spectrophotometric study of neodymium(III) complexation in chloride solutions journal December 2002
A spectrophotometric study of erbium (III) speciation in chloride solutions at elevated temperatures journal October 2006
An experimental study of the solubility and speciation of neodymium (III) fluoride in F-bearing aqueous solutions journal June 2007
A spectrophotometric study of Nd(III), Sm(III) and Er(III) complexation in sulfate-bearing solutions at elevated temperatures journal November 2008
Hydrothermal transport and deposition of the rare earth elements by fluorine-bearing aqueous liquids journal August 2014
A spectrophotometric study of neodymium(III) complexation in sulfate solutions at elevated temperatures journal February 2006
A spectrophotometric study of samarium (III) speciation in chloride solutions at elevated temperatures journal March 2008
An experimental study of the solubility and speciation of the Rare Earth Elements (III) in fluoride- and chloride-bearing aqueous solutions at temperatures up to 300°C journal December 2009
IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 87. Rare Earth Metal Chlorides in Water and Aqueous Systems. Part 1. Scandium Group (Sc, Y, La) journal December 2008
IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 87. Rare Earth Metal Chlorides in Water and Aqueous Systems. Part 2. Light Lanthanides (Ce–Eu) journal June 2009
IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 87. Rare Earth Metal Chlorides in Water and Aqueous Systems. Part 3. Heavy Lanthanides (Gd–Lu) journal December 2009
Microbially mediated cerium oxidation in sea water journal May 1990
Structural Investigation of the Aqueous Eu 2+ Ion:  Comparison with Sr 2+ Using the XAFS Technique journal March 2002
Thermodynamics of solid phases containing rare earth oxides journal September 2015
Calculation of activity coefficients and degrees of formation of neutral ion pairs in supercritical electrolyte solutions journal May 1991
2 H and 139 La NMR Spectroscopy in Aqueous Solutions at Geochemical Pressures journal September 2015
Origin of hydrothermal fluids at Olympic Dam; preliminary results from fluid inclusions and stable isotopes journal February 1992
Hydrated metal ions in aqueous solution: How regular are their structures? journal August 2010
Hydration of Lanthanoid(III) Ions in Aqueous Solution and Crystalline Hydrates Studied by EXAFS Spectroscopy and Crystallography: The Myth of the “Gadolinium Break” journal March 2008
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of a Highly Concentrated LiCl Aqueous Solution journal May 2008
Experimental determination of synthetic NdPO4 monazite end-member solubility in water from 21°C to 300°C: implications for rare earth element mobility in crustal fluids journal May 2004
High-temperature heat capacities of EuPO4 and SmPO4 synthetic monazites journal June 2006
Solubility measurements of synthetic neodymium monazite as a function of temperature at 2kbars, and aqueous neodymium speciation in equilibrium with monazite journal March 2010
Aqueous speciation of yttrium at temperatures from 25 to 340°C at Psat: an in situ EXAFS study journal October 1998
Intracrystalline rare earth element distributions in apatite: Surface structural influences on incorporation during growth journal November 1996
Evidence of heterovalent europium in zoned Llallagua apatite using wavelength dispersive XANES journal May 2001
Hydrothermal ree Fluorocarbonate Mineralization at Barra do Itapirapua, a Multiple Stockwork Carbonatite, Southern Brazil journal August 2008
Lanthanide(III) halides: Thermodynamic properties and their correlation with crystal structure journal February 2008
The role of hydrothermal processes in concentrating high-field strength elements in the Strange Lake peralkaline complex, northeastern Canada journal June 1996
Determination of stability constants for the mono- and difluoro-complexes of Y and the REE, using a cation-exchange resin and ICP-MS journal September 1999
Determination of SO4β1 for yttrium and the rare earth elements at I = 0.66 m and t = 25°C—implications for YREE solution speciation in sulfate-rich waters journal July 2004
Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides journal September 1976
Calculation of the thermodynamic and transport properties of aqueous species at high pressures and temperatures: Correlation algorithms for ionic species and equation of state predictions to 5 kb and 1000°C journal August 1988
Inorganic species in geologic fluids: Correlations among standard molal thermodynamic properties of aqueous ions and hydroxide complexes journal March 1997
Coordination of ions in aqueous solutions of erbium chloride from X-ray diffraction data journal August 2013
Preliminary Fluid Inclusion Constraints on Fluid Evolution in the Bayan Obo Fe-REE-Nb Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China journal November 2000
Fractionation of the REE during hydrothermal processes: constraints from the Bayan Obo Fe-REE-Nb deposit, Inner Mongolia, China. journal September 2000
Structures and Energetics of Erbium Chloride Complexes in Aqueous Solution journal June 2009
Spectrophotometric study of Nd, Sm, and Ho complexation in chloride solutions at 100–250°C journal March 2005
An experimental study of hydroxo complex formation in basic and near-neutral solutions of rare-earth elements and yttrium at 25 ºC journal August 2014
Europium redox equilibria in aqueous solution journal January 1984
Prediction of the thermodynamic properties of aqueous metal complexes to 1000°C and 5 kb journal April 1997
Experimental study of dissociation of HCl from 350 to 500°C and from 500 to 2500 bars: Thermodynamic properties of HCl°(aq) journal October 1997
Determination of the Eu(II)/Eu(III) ratios in minerals by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and its application to hydrothermal deposits journal April 2005
Density functional theory based molecular dynamics study of hydration and electronic properties of aqueous La3+ journal July 2010
In-situ X-ray absorption study of Iron(II) speciation in brines up to supercritical conditions journal June 2009
The Nature and Origin of the REE Mineralization in the Wicheeda Carbonatite, British Columbia, Canada journal January 2016
Reading the mineral record of fluid composition from element partitioning journal September 2010
The Karonge rare earth deposits, Republic of Burundi: New mineralogical-geochemical data and origin of the mineralization journal November 1977
A Special Orogenic-type Rare Earth Element Deposit in Maoniuping, Sichuan, China: Geology and Geochemistry journal September 2001
A Detailed Assessment of Global Rare Earth Element Resources: Opportunities and Challenges journal November 2015
A preliminary petrogenetic grid for REE fluorocarbonates and associated minerals journal February 1992
Hydrothermal Mobilisation of the Rare Earth Elements - a Tale of "Ceria" and "Yttria" journal October 2012
The Genesis of Hydrothermal Fluorite-REE Deposits in the Gallinas Mountains, New Mexico journal March 2000
The aqueous geochemistry of the rare-earth elements and yttrium journal October 1990
The aqueous geochemistry of the rare-earth elements and yttrium journal January 1990
Trace-element modeling of the magmatic evolution of rare-earth-rich carbonatite from the Miaoya deposit, Central China journal July 2010

Cited By (16)

Numerical Modeling of REE Fractionation Patterns in Fluorapatite from the Olympic Dam Deposit (South Australia) journal August 2018
The Petyayan-Vara Carbonatite-Hosted Rare Earth Deposit (Vuoriyarvi, NW Russia): Mineralogy and Geochemistry journal January 2020
Uranium Transport in F-Cl-Bearing Fluids and Hydrothermal Upgrading of U-Cu Ores in IOCG Deposits journal August 2018
Crystal chemistry of titanite from the Roxby Downs Granite, South Australia: insights into petrogenesis, subsolidus evolution and hydrothermal alteration journal June 2019
Open Apatite Sr Isotopic System in Low‐Temperature Hydrous Regimes journal November 2019
REY and Trace Element Chemistry of Fluorite from Post-Variscan Hydrothermal Veins in Paleozoic Units of the North German Basin journal July 2018
Ion Association in Lanthanide Chloride Solutions journal May 2019
Mineralogical constraints on Nb–REE mineralization of the Zhujiayuan Nb (−REE) deposit in the North Daba Mountain, South Qinling, China journal December 2019
Rare Earth Elements in Mineral Deposits: Speciation in Hydrothermal Fluids and Partitioning in Calcite journal January 2018
The s in Hydrothermal Systems book January 2019
Hydrothermal Alteration of Eudialyte-Hosted Critical Metal Deposits: Fluid Source and Implications for Deposit Grade journal July 2019
Carbonatites: related ore deposits, resources, footprint, and exploration methods journal October 2018
Hydrothermal formation of heavy rare earth element (HREE)–xenotime deposits at 100 °C in a sedimentary basin journal January 2018
Critical Elements in Supergene Phosphates: The Example of the Weathering Profile at the Gavà Neolithic Mines, Catalonia, Spain journal December 2019
Fractionation of Rare Earth Elements in Greisen and Hydrothermal Veins Related to A-Type Magmatism journal August 2019
Hydrothermal formation of heavy rare earth element (HREE)–xenotime deposits at 100 °C in a sedimentary basin text January 2018