Albitized zones of the Strzeblów granite deposit REE-Y-Sc-Nb-Ta mineralization characteristics

Abstract

Rock samples were collected in the active granite mine to investigate the REE-Y-Sc-Nb-Ta mineralization. Each of the collected samples present a different level of transformation, from rocks virtually unchanged to completely transformed rocks. The most important process that manifests itself in the enrichment of rare earth elements is albitization. During the albitization processes, almost all elements that deplete or enrich the modified granite have been activated. The main recognized carriers of Nb-Ta-REE are monazite, pyrochlore, cheralite and xenotime. Monazite and pyrochlore found in Strzeblów have a typical chemical composition with a few exceptions where monazite contains additional amount of thorium. An increased amount of thorium and hafnium was also observed in zircone.