Solubility of rare metals as a constraint on mineralization of granitic pegmatite

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2021.8.7

Abstract

Abstract:

Granitic pegmatite deposit is one of important types of rare metal deposits. In the granitic pegmatite, the rare metals Li, Be, Nb and Ta mainly occur in mineralogically distinct zones. Their solubilities in silicate melts have been studied systematically and shown to be mostly affected by temperature (T) and aluminum saturation index (ASI). Here we set out to establish quantitative relationships between T/ASI and the solubility of rare metal minerals (Nb and Ta) in silicate melts by multiple linear regression analysis of literature data. We found the following relationships:
lgc(Li) (10^-6)=-0.37×(1000/T)+4.56, R²=0.44
lgc(BeO) (10^-6)=-4.21×(1000/T)+6.86, R²=0.91
lgK_sp(Nb)=-(2.86±0.14)×ASI_(Mn+Li)(4.95±0.31)×(1000/T)+(4.20+0.28), R²=0.86
lgK_sp(Ta)=-(2.46±0.11)×ASI_(Mn+Li)(4.86±0.30)×(1000/T)+(4.00+0.30), R²=0.80
Where c is percentage content; K_sp is solubility, in mg ²/kg²; ASI_(Mn+Li) is the molar ratio Al₂O₃/(CaO+Na₂O+K₂O+Li₂O+MnO), applicable between 0.6-1.2; and T is temperature of silicate melt in Kelvin, applicable between 1073-1373 K. These quantitative relationships can be used as a basis for quantifying the metallogenic model of granitic pegmatite. The sharply decrease of solubility with decreasing T and increasing ASI can be the main mechanism leading to the crystallization of rare metal minerals, because the same conditions are met during magma evolution, where magma emplacement, fractional crystallization and fluid-melt interaction cause increase of magma temperature and decrease of ASI.

Key words: rare metal minerals, solubility, temperature, ASI, pegmatite

CLC Number:

TANG Yong, QIN Shanxian, ZHAO Jingyu, LÜ Zhenghang, LIU Xiqiang, WANG Hong, CHEN Jianzheng, ZHANG Hui. Solubility of rare metals as a constraint on mineralization of granitic pegmatite[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2022, 29(1): 81-92.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig.1 Effect of flux elements on the solubility of Mn-columbite and Mn-tantalite. Data adapted from [10,12,14-15].

Fig.2 Effect of temperature on the solubility of independent rare-metal minerals. Data adapted from [10-13,15-21].

Table 1 Effect of temperature on solubility of rare metal minerals. Data adapted from [10-13,15-21].

序号	ASI	矿物	等式	R²	斜率	H/(kJ·mol^-1)
1	1.00	锂辉石	lg [w(Li)/10^-6]=-0.37×[1 000/(T/K)]+4.56	0.44	0.37	7.1
2	1.00	绿柱石	lg [w(BeO)/10^-6] =-2.75×[1 000/(T/K)]+5.89	0.95	3.32	63.6
3	>1.00	绿柱石	lg [w(BeO)/10^-6] =-4.21×[1 000/(T/K)]+6.86	0.91	4.21	80.6
4	0.60	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-2.32×[1 000/(T/K)]+0.42	0.78	2.32	44.4
5	1.00	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.56×[1 000/(T/K)]+1.75	0.98	5.56	106.5
6	1.20	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-8.06×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.73	1.00	8.06	154.3
7	0.90	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.28×[1 000/(T/K)]+2.24	0.98	5.28	101.1
8	1.00	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-7.01×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.17	0.94	7.01	134.2
9	1.10	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.19×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.17	0.94	5.19	99.4

Table 1 Effect of temperature on solubility of rare metal minerals. Data adapted from [10-13,15-21].

序号	ASI	矿物	等式	R²	斜率	H/(kJ·mol^-1)
1	1.00	锂辉石	lg [w(Li)/10^-6]=-0.37×[1 000/(T/K)]+4.56	0.44	0.37	7.1
2	1.00	绿柱石	lg [w(BeO)/10^-6] =-2.75×[1 000/(T/K)]+5.89	0.95	3.32	63.6
3	>1.00	绿柱石	lg [w(BeO)/10^-6] =-4.21×[1 000/(T/K)]+6.86	0.91	4.21	80.6
4	0.60	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-2.32×[1 000/(T/K)]+0.42	0.78	2.32	44.4
5	1.00	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.56×[1 000/(T/K)]+1.75	0.98	5.56	106.5
6	1.20	铌锰矿	lg [ $K sp Nb$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-8.06×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.73	1.00	8.06	154.3
7	0.90	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.28×[1 000/(T/K)]+2.24	0.98	5.28	101.1
8	1.00	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-7.01×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.17	0.94	7.01	134.2
9	1.10	钽锰矿	lg [ $K sp Ta$ /(mol²·kg^-2)]=-5.19×[1 000/(T/K)]+3.17	0.94	5.19	99.4

Fig.3 Effect of melt composition (ASI) on the solubility of beryl, Mn-columbite and Mn-tantalite. Data adapted from [10-13,15-20,22].

Fig.4 Distribution of rare metals in granitic pegmatite. Modified after [30].

Fig.5 Temperature-solubility diagrams for Li, Be, Nb and Ta

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