Author/Authors :
Ghannadpour, Saeed Faculty of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering - Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran, Iran , Hezarkhani, Ardeshir Faculty of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering - Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
In several uranium (U) prospecting projects in Iran, particularly Central Iran, the
association and enrichment of rare earth elements (REEs) are known as the usual
features. Sometimes the association of REEs and U with high economic perspective
has caused that the relation between the rare earth and radioactive elements is taken
into consideration in other types of mineralization, and if there is any relation,
radioactivity will be applied in the exploration of REEs. In the current work, sampling
from Baghak anomaly in the Sangan mines is carried out based on the radioactivity
and radiation measurement methods (as the optimal sampling pattern). In fact, the goal
of this work is to survey the presence or absence of such a relation in a skarn mine,
which is a different case study from Central Iran. In the case of presence, this will lead
to a new exploration method and sampling pattern for REEs. The mineralogical studies
(based on the optical and electronic microscopic observations), statistical
investigations, and geochemical analyses are applied in this research work. The results
obtained from the statistical studies show that the Baghak anomaly due to involving a
significant amount of U, Ce, and La and a high concentration of REEs can be
considered as one of the important mines. Spider diagrams and their geochemical
investigations include the features that are typical of the subduction-related magmas
in the calcalkaline volcanic arcs of the continental active margins. The chondritenormalized
REE pattern shows the enrichment of LREE, and a positive pattern close
to flat HREE due to the entry of LREE ions into the allanites network. The
mineralogical study results also confirm that REEs (especially Ce) are accumulated as
a solid solution in the allanite minerals. Moreover, from the mineralogical,
geochemical, and statistical analyses, it can be observed that in addition to the presence
of such a relation in the mentioned mineralization (Central Iran mineralizations), there
is an acceptable correlation between these elements in the Baghak iron-skarn
mineralization. Eventually, it can be said that the idea and introduced method for the
exploration of REEs in this work could present a new viewpoint to the decision-makers
of this industry.
Keywords :
Radiation measurement , Radioactivity , Rare earth elements , Baghak , Sangan iron mine
