Open AccessIndicator mineral signature of the Strange Lake rare earth element deposit, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador
Author(s) -
M B McClenaghan,
R C Paulen,
IM Kjarsgaard,
S A Averill,
R Fortin
Publication year - 2017
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.4095/306239
Subject(s) - geology , geochemistry , allanite , monazite , mineral , carbonate minerals , silicate , rare earth element , mineralogy , silicate minerals , bedrock , heavy mineral , zircon , rare earth , dolomite , provenance , chemistry , geomorphology , organic chemistry
The first detailed study of the indicator mineral signature of a major rare earth element (REE) deposit in glaciated terrain was undertaken at the Strange Lake Zr-Y-HREE deposit in northern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The heavy mineral(>3.2 SG) and mid-density (3.0-3.2 SG) nonferromagnetic fractions of bedrock samples from the two mineralized zones were examined to determine potential indicator minerals of REE mineralization. Till samples overlying and up to 50 km down-ice of the deposit were examined to determine theabundance of these minerals at varying distances from the deposit. The deposit contains numerous oxide, silicate, phosphate, and carbonate indicator minerals. Some of the minerals observed in both the bedrock and till samples had not been previously reported for the Strange Lake deposit. The mostuseful indicator minerals were determined to be Zr-silicates (primary elpidite, secondary gittinsite, and many other hydrated Zr±Y±Ca-silicate minerals), pyrochlore, thorite/ thorianite, monazite/rhabdophane, chevkinite, parisite, bastnaesite, kainosite, and allanite. Rare earth elementindicator minerals can now be added to the expanding list of indicator minerals that can be used to explore for a broad range of deposit types and commodities, i.e., diamonds, precious metals, base metals, and strategic metals.