Ancient process that created rare earth elements discovered - and it could help us locate desperately needed deposits
Live Science • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers have identified that rare earth element deposits form above ancient subduction zones where alkaline and carbonatite magmas develop, challenging previous theories linking these deposits primarily to mantle plumes.
- The study found that fluids and halogen elements released during subduction "fertilize" the mantle, creating enriched zones that can remain stable for millions to billions of years before melting to form rare earth deposits.
- Analysis showed that 67% of known alkaline and carbonatite magma blobs and 72% of rare earth deposits are located above fertilized mantle regions, with 92% of deposits older than 540 million years linked to these zones.
- This discovery enables a more targeted approach to locating rare earth element deposits, which are critical for technologies like electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines, by focusing exploration on ancient tectonic zones and stable crust regions.
- Further refinement of tectonic and subduction models, extending beyond 2 billion years, could improve identification of additional prospective areas for rare earth element mining.
