Discovery and Petrogenetic Significance of Strontianite-rich Carbonatite in the Muluozhai REE Deposit,Western Sichuan,ChinaOA

Strontianite-rich carbonatite,containing over 30 vol%carbonate minerals predominantly composed of strontianite(SrCO3),is identified in the Zhengjialiangzi ore segment of the Muluozhai rare earth element(REE)deposit,western Sichuan Province,China.It exhibits a unique mineral assemblage dominated by strontianite,fluorite,bastnäsite,barite,calcite and dolomite,distinguishing it from conventional calcio-,magnesio-,ferro-,or natro-carbonatites.The rock shows extreme enrichment in REEs(ΣREE=47335-64367 ppm),with strong LREE/HREE fractionation[(La/Yb)N=1151-2119]and notably high concentrations of high-value critical REEs(e.g.,Pr,Nd,Tb,Dy),5-10 times greater than those in local calcite-dominated carbonatites.Trace element patterns indicate significant enrichment in REEs,Sr,and Ba,along with depletion in high-field-strength elements(HFSEs;e.g.,Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf).In-situ Sr isotopes of strontianite[(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)i=0.706190-0.707305]indicate an enriched mantle source(EMI-EMII).Sr enrichment is attributed to initial mantle source enrichment and extensive fractional crystallization,possibly accompanied by minor wall-rock assimilation.We propose that the strontianite-rich carbonatite formed from a highly evolved,Sr-and REEs-rich carbonatitic magma that intruded into shallow structural breccias,followed by rapid cooling.Its formation is associated with a continuous melt-fluid evolutionary process that is characteristic of carbonatitic systems.