Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C

Reece, Margaret E.; Migdisov, Artas A.; Williams-Jones, Anthony E.; Strzelecki, Andrew C.; Waters, Laura; Boukhalfa, Hakim; Guo, Xiaofeng

doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02334-w

Title: Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C

Journal Article · Wed May 07 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Communications Earth & Environment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02334-w · OSTI ID:3012205

^[1]; Migdisov, Artas A. ^[2]; Williams-Jones, Anthony E. ^[3];

^[2]; Waters, Laura ^[4]; Boukhalfa, Hakim ^[2];

^[5]

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Washington State University, Pullman, WA (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
McGill University, Montreal, QC (Canada)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)
Washington State University, Pullman, WA (United States)

Rare earth element exploration requires a quantitative understanding of factors governing their mobilization and economic concentration. However, the behavior of rare earth elements in carbonate- bearing hydrothermal fluids associated with carbonatite-hosted deposits is poorly understood, and conflicting mechanisms of rare earth transport by anionic ligands and alkali behavior have been described. Here, we report quantitative data to characterize the role of carbonate-bearing solutions in the hydrothermal mobilization of neodymium. Solubility studies of neodymium phosphate were performed at temperatures ranging from 100 to 600 °C in carbonate-bearing solutions. The thermodynamic data determined for the predominant complex were used to model the separation of neodymium from thorium in a simple flow-through system based on fluid and mineral compositions characteristic of carbonatite deposits. Our data suggest that neodymium transport is controlled by the stability of the carbonate species NdCO₃OH^o , and at temperatures of 500–600 °C, the concentrations of neodymium in solutions can reach ~1000 ppm.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Earth Sciences; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC). Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; SC0022269

OSTI ID:: 3012205

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--24-30914

Journal Information:: Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Name: Communications Earth & Environment Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN 2662-4435

Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLCCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
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carbonate
carbonate complexes
carbonatites
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geochemistry
hydrothermal
monazite
rare earth elements
speciation

Title: Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C

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