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Rare earth elements upon assessment of reasons of the geophagy in Sikhote-Alin region (Russian Federation), Africa and other world regions

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Abstract

Rocks eaten by wild animals on the Bolshoy Shanduyskiy kudur in the Sikhote-Alin region (Russian Federation) are zeolite–clay mineral complexes—products of weathering of zeolitized vitric tuffs of rhyolite composition, deposited in aqueous medium within the volcanic caldera of about 55 million years ago. By composition of rock-forming oxides, the tuffs refer to high-potassium calc-alkaline series. In trace elements of most favorite kudurites of the Bolshoy Shanduyskiy kudur, there are significantly increased contents of most of rare earth elements (2–5 times in comparison with surrounding rocks). The results of our analysis of geological and geochemical data on kudurs and kudurites in another part of the Sikhote-Alin, as well as on other regions of the world (particularly, in Africa and Indonesia), taking into account new data on the prevalence of rare earth elements in living matter and their medical and biological properties, enable us to consider the version of causal connection of the geophagy with rare earth elements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Geographical Institute of Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 7 Radio St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690041

    Alexander M. Panichev & Ivan V. Seryodkin

  2. Far Eastern Federal University, 8 Sukhanova St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690091

    Alexander M. Panichev, Ivan V. Seryodkin & Alexandr A. Sergievich

  3. Far Eastern Institute of Geology of Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 100-letiya Vladivostoku St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690022

    Vladimir K. Popov & Igor Yu. Chekryzhov

  4. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskiye Gory, Moscow, Russia, 119991

    Tatiana A. Stolyarova

  5. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 35 Staromonetny Pereulok, Moscow, Russia, 119017

    Sergey V. Zakusin

  6. Technical Institute (Branch) of North-Eastern Federal University Named After M. K. Ammosov, 16 Kravchenko St., Nerungri, Russia, 678960

    Pavel P. Khoroshikh

Authors
  1. Alexander M. Panichev
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  2. Vladimir K. Popov
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  3. Igor Yu. Chekryzhov
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  4. Ivan V. Seryodkin
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  5. Tatiana A. Stolyarova
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  6. Sergey V. Zakusin
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  7. Alexandr A. Sergievich
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  8. Pavel P. Khoroshikh
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Correspondence to Ivan V. Seryodkin.

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Panichev, A.M., Popov, V.K., Chekryzhov, I.Y. et al. Rare earth elements upon assessment of reasons of the geophagy in Sikhote-Alin region (Russian Federation), Africa and other world regions. Environ Geochem Health 38, 1255–1270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9788-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9788-7

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