Rare Earth Deposits of North America     

Stephen B. Castor 《Resource Geology》2008,58(4):337-347

Rare earth elements (REE) have been mined in North America since 1885, when placer monazite was produced in the southeast USA. Since the 1960s, however, most North American REE have come from a carbonatite deposit at Mountain Pass, California, and most of the world’s REE came from this source between 1965 and 1995. After 1998, Mountain Pass REE sales declined substantially due to competition from China and to environmental constraints. REE are presently not mined at Mountain Pass, and shipments were made from stockpiles in recent years. Chevron Mining, however, restarted extraction of selected REE at Mountain Pass in 2007. In 1987, Mountain Pass reserves were calculated at 29 Mt of ore with 8.9% rare earth oxide based on a 5% cut‐off grade. Current reserves are in excess of 20 Mt at similar grade. The ore mineral is bastnasite, and the ore has high light REE/heavy REE (LREE/HREE). The carbonatite is a moderately dipping, tabular 1.4‐Ga intrusive body associated with ultrapotassic alkaline plutons of similar age. The chemistry and ultrapotassic alkaline association of the Mountain Pass deposit suggest a different source than that of most other carbonatites. Elsewhere in the western USA, carbonatites have been proposed as possible REE sources. Large but low‐grade LREE resources are in carbonatite in Colorado and Wyoming. Carbonatite complexes in Canada contain only minor REE resources. Other types of hard‐rock REE deposits in the USA include small iron‐REE deposits in Missouri and New York, and vein deposits in Idaho. Phosphorite and fluorite deposits in the USA also contain minor REE resources. The most recently discovered REE deposit in North America is the Hoidas Lake vein deposit, Saskatchewan, a small but incompletely evaluated resource. Neogene North American placer monazite resources, both marine and continental, are small or in environmentally sensitive areas, and thus unlikely to be mined. Paleoplacer deposits also contain minor resources. Possible future uranium mining of Precambrian conglomerates in the Elliott Lake–Blind River district, Canada, could yield by‐product HREE and Y. REE deposits occur in peralkaline syenitic and granitic rocks in several places in North America. These deposits are typically enriched in HREE, Y, and Zr. Some also have associated Be, Nb, and Ta. The largest such deposits are at Thor Lake and Strange Lake in Canada. A eudialyte syenite deposit at Pajarito Mountain in New Mexico is also probably large, but of lower grade. Similar deposits occur at Kipawa Lake and Lackner Lake in Canada. Future uses of some REE commodities are expected to increase, and growth is likely for REE in new technologies. World reserves, however, are probably sufficient to meet international demand for most REE commodities well into the 21st century. Recent experience shows that Chinese producers are capable of large amounts of REE production, keeping prices low. Most refined REE prices are now at approximately 50% of the 1980s price levels, but there has been recent upward price movement for some REE compounds following Chinese restriction of exports. Because of its grade, size, and relatively simple metallurgy, the Mountain Pass deposit remains North America’s best source of LREE. The future of REE production at Mountain Pass is mostly dependent on REE price levels and on domestic REE marketing potential. The development of new REE deposits in North America is unlikely in the near future. Undeveloped deposits with the most potential are probably large, low‐grade deposits in peralkaline igneous rocks. Competition with established Chinese HREE and Y sources and a developing Australian deposit will be a factor.  相似文献   

Zircon M257 ‐ a Homogeneous Natural Reference Material for the Ion Microprobe U‐Pb Analysis of Zircon     

Lutz Nasdala  Wolfgang Hofmeister  Nicholas Norberg  James M. Martinson  Fernando Corfu  Wolfgang Dörr  Sandra L. Kamo  Allen K. Kennedy  Andreas Kronz  Peter W. Reiners  Dirk Frei  Jan Kosler  Yusheng Wan  Jens Götze  Tobias Häger  Alfred Kröner  John W. Valley 《Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research》2008,32(3):247-265

We introduce and propose zircon M257 as a future reference material for the determination of zircon U‐Pb ages by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. This light brownish, flawless, cut gemstone specimen from Sri Lanka weighed 5.14 g (25.7 carats). Zircon M257 has TIMS‐determined, mean isotopic ratios (2s uncertainties) of 0.09100 ± 0.00003 for ²⁰⁶pb/²³⁸U and 0.7392 ± 0.0003 for ²⁰⁷pb/²³⁵U. Its ²⁰⁶pb/²³⁸U age is 561.3 ± 0.3 Ma (unweighted mean, uncertainty quoted at the 95% confidence level); the U‐Pb system is concordant within uncertainty of decay constants. Zircon M257 contains ～ 840 μg g^?1 U (Th/U ～ 0.27). The material exhibits remarkably low heterogeneity, with a virtual absence of any internal textures even in cathodoluminescence images. The uniform, moderate degree of radiation damage (estimated from the expansion of unit‐cell parameters, broadening of Raman spectral parameters and density) corresponds well, within the “Sri Lankan trends”, with actinide concentrations, U‐Pb age, and the calculated alpha fluence of 1.66 × 10¹⁸ g^?1. This, and a (U+Th)/He age of 419 ± 9 Ma (2s), enables us to exclude any unusual thermal history or heat treatment, which could potentially have affected the retention of radiogenic Pb. The oxygen isotope ratio of this zircon is 13.9%o VSMOW suggesting a metamorphic genesis in a marble or calc‐silicate skarn.  相似文献   

三维地震小面元采集技术在晋城矿区的应用     

张胤彬 《中国煤炭地质》2008,(6):70-72

依托“西部煤炭资源高精度三维地震勘探技术”工程,对晋城矿区进行了旨在提高小断层,小陷落柱探测能力的高密度三维地震勘探。根据面元选择因素及该区地质任务,采用5m×5m网格进行野外数据采集;考虑炮检距、方位角、覆盖次数、排列片横纵比及煤层埋深（350～500m）等因素,采用中点放炮、60道接收,24次覆盖（横向4次,纵向6次）的8线16炮束状观测系统,基岩中激发。原始资料经同一处理流程后,获得5m×5m×1ms、5m×10m×1ms、10m×10m×1ms及2.5m×2.5m×1ms不同单元的三维数据体多个,通过对比可以发现小断层,小陷落柱在其小面元叠加时间剖面、顺层切片及相干切片都有清晰的反映。实例说明,小面元采集技术可以提高对小构造的纵、横向分辨能力,满足山区对三维地震精确勘探的要求。  相似文献   

小面元三维地震勘探技术在西山屯兰矿南五采区的应用     

温建绪 《中国煤炭地质》2008,(6):73-75

屯兰矿南五采区地形复杂,最大高差达271m,地表大面积为第四系黄土覆盖,激发困难。为探索研究小面元三维地震勘探技术的应用效果。在常规三维地震勘区域内划出1km^2,采用5m×5m小面元进行采集。在地震数据采集过程中,采取了加大激发井深、提高覆盖次数、减小CMP面元网格和加大接收排列等技术措施,做到“四小三高、二中一深、两个等高面”。通过插值、抽线及扩大面元处理。获得2．5m×2．5m×1ms、5m×5m×1ms、5m×10m×1ms、10m×10m×1ms以及不同叠加次数的三维数据体。资料解释工作主要是在5m×5m×1ms、2．5m×2．5m×1ms两个数据体上进行,解释落差大于或等于5m的断层6条,落差3～5m的断层8条;查明长轴直径20～30m的陷落柱4个。30～100m的陷落柱1个,大于100m的陷落柱3个。与相邻区常规三维地震比较,小面元三维地震勘探有利于对小陷落柱、小断层的控制和解释。  相似文献   

POPULATION EXPANSION IN CHINA''''S METROPOLISES AND ITS SCALE-CONTROL     

何兴刚 《中国地理科学(英文版)》1993,(3)

Metropolises are centers of politics, economy, culture and information, and also economic growth poles in comparatively large areas. After 1949, China's urban structure have changed greatly, from original "pyramid" shape into "upside -down pyramid" shape, that is, more megalopolises and metropolises, fewer medium-sized and small cities. The most distinguishing feature of urban population growth was the remarkable increase of population in megalopolises and metropolises. The key reason for urban population expansion is to want to obtain the benefits of scale -agglomeration economy of metropolises. The number of urban functions directly determines the quality and quantity of urban population. Metropolises appeal not only agricultural population but also the population of medium-sized and small cities, which put much more population pressure on metropolises. The ideal goals of scale-control of metropolitan population are discussed in terms of economy, society and ecollogy. In order to control the metropoli  相似文献   

Fourier Analysis Applied to Mimomys (Arvicolidae, Rodentia, Mammalia) First Lower Molars – Biochronological Implications     

Federica Marcolini 《Mathematical Geology》2006,38(6):667-678

Fourier analysis was used in this study to help a specific determination of some Mimomys (Arvicolidae, Rodentia, Mammalia) species. Several Pliocene and Pleistocene Central and Western European Mimomys species first lower molar contours have been decomposed by Complex Discrete Fourier Transform. Inter- and intra-specific comparisons have been performed on the harmonics obtained from the decomposition and some problematic specimens have been classified.  相似文献   

紫色丘陵区不同侵蚀沉积地段土壤结构特征     

况福虹  何毓蓉朱波 张保华 《山地学报》2006,24(B10):71-76

以中国科学院盐亭紫色土农业生态试验站小流域为例，研究不同土壤侵蚀沉积地段（斜坡和沟谷不同部位）的土壤结构特征，以了解侵蚀沉积对土壤结构的影响。结果表明，在植被覆盖较好的坡体顶部，土壤侵蚀较弱，团聚度达到30．1％，MWD变化为3．4mm，土壤结构良好；沟谷底部由于沉积而有较多细土物质并具有适宜的水分条件，有利于土壤团聚体的形成，结构状况亦较好，团聚度达到50．3％，结构保持率为35．4％；而坡腰侵蚀较严重，团聚度仅为13．6％，结构保持率为14．1％，土壤结构状况较差。  相似文献   

Unequal Competition Among Chains of Supercenters: Kmart,Target, and Wal‐Mart     

Thomas O. Graff 《The Professional geographer》2006,58(1):54-64

The three largest discount chains, Kmart, Target, and Wal‐Mart, have adopted the supercenter format for expansion. This article examines the locations of and the competition among these supercenters. Wal‐Mart has the greatest number of supercenters and is driving the expansion of the supercenter format. Both Kmart and Target have clustered their supercenters in a small number of metropolitan markets. In contrast to Wal‐Mart and Kmart, Target has focused on a middle‐class rather than a blue‐collar clientele. Now Kmart is struggling following a declaration of bankruptcy. Wal‐Mart has largely defeated its supercenter competitors and now is confronting the major grocery chains for grocery sales.  相似文献   

Landscapes of Conflict: The Oregon Story, 1940–2000 by William G. Robbins     

Thomas Harvey 《The Professional geographer》2006,58(3):361-362

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青海热水柴达尔井田构造组合型式     

文怀军 《中国煤田地质》2006,18(3):14-16

柴达尔井田构造可分为压缩机制的推覆构造与伸展机制的断块体两类。南北F0为逆冲型的控制性边界断裂，井田内部一系列小型弧形构造为逆掩型浅层断裂；F1、F2、F17，是拉伸作用下的同沉积正断层，切断煤系基底T3地层。其动力机制为印度板块向北推移、西伯利亚板块向南运移发生对挤，脆一韧性剪切变形导致了井用现有的构造组合形式。  相似文献