Continuing our phosphate work, X-ray Mineral Services (XMS) Ltd has compared the major element, trace element and REE signals of GeoPT standard POLC-1 (Arkansas phosphorite) with new data for Standard Reference Material 120C (Florida phosphate rock). Notably, the sum of the REEs in 120C are significantly lower (c.430 ppm) than in POLC-1 (2330 pm). POLC-1 is also marked by much higher LREE and MREE enrichments (when compared to average shale).
In addition, the REE average normalised plots are comparable to data published by Emsbo et al. (2015) that clearly demonstrate the 12OC phosphorite (Miocene age) has a much lower REE content with a strong negative Ce anomaly, whereas the POLC-1 phosphorite (Ordovician age) is strongly enriched in REEs and comparable to the published results from Arkansas.
XMS has the ability to accurately characterise phosphorites from around the world and compare the results with other global deposits.
Posted 28th June 2021
