Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tantalum-niobium mineralization of the Taikeu ore cluster, the Polar Urals

  • Published:
Geology of Ore Deposits Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Taikeu ore cluster comprises four tantalum-bearing ore deposits: Taikeu, Ust-Mramorny, Longotyugan, and Neudachny. Their ores are related to microcline-albite and less frequent quartz-albite-mica (phengite) metasomatic rocks replacing granites. The major ore minerals belong to the fergusonite and pyrochlore groups (mainly plumbopyrochlore). The compositional evolution of these minerals is considered in detail. High-Yb fergusonite containing up to 22–27 wt % Yb2O3 was established in the ore cluster for the first time. Its formula is ({Yb0.30Er0.15Dy0.05Lu0.04Tm0.04…}0.61Y0.39)[Nb0.99Ta0.01]O3.96. The density of this mineral determined by microvolumetric method is 6.47 ± 0.06 g/cm3. Fergusonite evolves from high-Yb to low-Yb varieties, with relatively small variations in Er and Dy. It is suggested that this fractionation trend is caused by high solubility of Yb2+ complexes (primarily, fluoride complexes) in aqueous fluid during albitization. The chemical composition of the pyrochlore-group minerals evolves as follows: Na+Ca → U+Th → Pb. Plumbopyrochlore was formed at the late metasomatic stage of tantalum-niobium mineralization. The characteristic features of this stage are a high oxidation potential, on the one hand, and a low activity of sulfide sulfur, on the other hand.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. F. R. Apel’tsin, N. V. Skorobogatova, and L. N. Yakushin, Genetic Features of Granitoids of the Polar Ural and Conditions of Their Rare-Metal Metallogenic Specialization (Nedra, Moscow, 1967) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. F. A. Belinskaya, “Ionic Exchange and Isomorphism in Pyrochlore-Type Compounds,” in Ionic Exchange and Ionometry (Leningrad State Univ., Leningrad, 1984), No. 4, pp. 3–14 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. N. F. Chelishchev and N. A. Mar’ina, “Ion Exchange Properties of Pyrochlore under Supercritical Conditions,” Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 197(3), 682–685 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  4. V. Yu. Chevychelov, G. P. Zaraisky, G. P. Borodulin, O. V. Udoratina, and V. F. Efimov, “Two Types of Tantalum-Niobium Mineralization in Granites, A Case of the Taikeu Deposit (the Polar Urals) and the Etyka Deposit (Eastern Transbaikal Region),” in Mineralogy Urals-2003, Vol. I: General Issues of Mineralogy and Crystallography (Inst. Mineral., Ural Division, Russian Acad. Sci., Miass, 2003), pp. 135–142 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. I. Ginzburg, S. A. Gorzhevskaya, E. A. Erofeeva, and G. A. Sidorenko, Geology of Rare-Element Deposits: Titano — Tantalo-Niobates I (Gosgeoltekhizdat, Moscow, 1960), Issue 10 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  6. G. R. Kolonin, “Physicochemical Properties of Europium As a Possible Marker of Mineral Formation Conditions,” Dokl. Akad. Nauk 408(4), 508–511 (2006) [Dokl. Earth Sci. 408 (4), 649–652 (2006)].

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. I. Komkov, “X-Ray Identification of the Minerals of Fergusonite Group,” Zap. Vsesoyuzn. Mineral. O-va 89(6), 655–660 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. V. Lapin and I. M. Kulikova, “Ontogenetic Types of Zoning of Pyrochlore Crystals in Carbonatites and Their Identification,” Zap. Vseross. Mineral. O-va 129(1), 75–82 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Masau, P. Cerny, and R. Chapman, “Dysprosian Xenotime-(Y) from the Annie Claim #3 Granitic Pegmatite, Southeastern Manitoba, Canada: Evidence of the Tetrad Effect?” Canad. Miner. 38, 899–905 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. D. A. Mineev, Lanthanides in Ores of Rare Earth Elements and Complex Deposits (Nauka, Moscow, 1974) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  11. E. Yu. Ozerova and O. V. Udoratina, “Fergusonites from Alkaline Metasomatic Rocks at the Taikeu Deposit, the Polar Urals,” in Proceedings of XIV Scientific Conference on Structure, Composition, History of the Lithosphere of the Timan-North Ural Segment (Geoprint, Syktyvkar, 2003), pp. 187–190 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  12. F. Pezzotta, V. Diella, A. Guastoni, “Chemical and Paragenetic Data on Gadolinite-Group Minerals from Baveno and Cuasso al Monte, Southern Alps, Italy,” Am. Miner. 84, 782–789 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  13. D. I. Ryabchikov and V. A. Ryabukhin, Analytic Chemistry of Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium (Nauka, Moscow, 1966) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  14. E. I. Semenov, Ores and Mineralization of REE, Thorium and Uranium (Lanthanides and Actinides) (Geos, Moscow, 2001) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. A. V. Tsymbalyuk, Geological Map of the USSR on a Scale 1: 200000, Severoural’sk Series, Map Sheet Q-42-I, Explanatory Notes, Ed. by V. N. Okhotnikov (Moscow, 1984) [in Russian].

  16. O. V. Udoratina and G. P. Zaraisky, “Genesis of the Rare-Metal Deposits of the Polar Urals (Taikeu Ore Cluster),” in Petrology and Mineralogy of the Northern Urals and Timan (Geoprint, Syktyvkar, 2005a), pp. 140–153 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  17. O. V. Udoratina and G. P. Zaraisky, “Chemical Composition of Rare-Metal Minerals from the Neudachny Deposit, the Polar Urals,” in Proceedings of Scientific Readings in Memory of P.N. Chirvinsky on Problems of Mineralogy, Petrography and Metallogeny (Perm State Univ, Perm, 2005b), No. 7, pp. 119–127 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  18. O. V. Udoratina, V. Yu. Chevychelov, and G. P. Zaraisky, “Chemical Composition of Rare-Metal Minerals from the Ust-Mramorny Deposit, the Polar Urals,” in Proceedings of Scientific Readings in Memory of P.N. Chirvinsky on Problems of Mineralogy, Petrography and Metallogeny (Perm State Univ., Perm, 2004), No. 6, pp. 47–56 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  19. O. V. Udoratina, G. P. Zaraisky, and V. Yu. Chevychelov, “Chemical Composition of Rare-Metal Minerals of the Longotyugan Deposit, the Polar Urals,” in Proceedings of Scientific Readings in Memory of P.N. Chirvinsky on Problems of Mineralogy, Petrography and Metallogeny (Perm State Univ., Perm, 2007a), No. 10, pp. 62–69 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  20. O. V. Udoratina, G. P. Zaraisky, V. Yu. Chevychelov, G. P. Borodulin, and N. V. Vasil’ev, “Chemical Composition of Fergusonites from the Taikeu Deposit, the Polar Urals,” Mineral. Zbornik, No. 35, 68–81 (2007).

  21. N. V. Vasil’ev, N. V. Skorobogatova, and O. V. Udoratina, “Samarskites and Columbites from the Taikeu Rare-Metal Deposit, the Polar Urals,” in Mineralogy of the Urals-2007 (Ural Division, Russian Acad. Sci., Miass-Yekaterinburg, 2007), pp. 151–154 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. V. Voloshin, L. M. Lyalina, E. E. Savchenko, and A. N. Bogdanova, “Formanite-(Y) from Amazonite Randpegmatites of the Western Keivy, Kola Peninsula,” Zap. Vseross. Mineral. O-va 132(1), 82–94 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  23. G. P. Zaraisky and O. V. Udoratina, “Pb and Zn in Chlorites and Phengites of the Taikeu Rare-Metal Deposit in the Polar Urals,” in Mineralogy of the Ural-2003, Vol. II: Mineralogy of Deposits and Ores of the Urals. Physics of Minerals (Inst. Mineral., Ural Division, Russian Acad. Sci., Miass, 2003), pp. 143–151.

    Google Scholar 

  24. V. A. Zharikov and N. S. Gorbachev, “Behavior of Rare Earth Elements in Fluid-Magmatic Systems from Experimental Data,” in Experimental Mineralogy: Some Results on the Turn of Centuries (Nauka, Moscow, 2004), Vol. 1, pp. 21–37 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Mineralogy, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Institutskaya 4, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432, Russia

    N. V. Vasil’ev, V. Yu. Chevychelov, G. P. Zaraisky & G. P. Borodulin

  2. Institute of Geology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Pervomaiskaya 54, Syktyvkar, 167982, Russia

    O. V. Udoratina

Authors
  1. N. V. Vasil’ev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Yu. Chevychelov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. P. Zaraisky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. P. Borodulin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. V. Udoratina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. V. Vasil’ev.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © N.V. Vasil’ev, V.Yu. Chevychelov, G.P. Zaraisky, G.P. Borodulin, O.V. Udoratina, 2009, published in Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society), 2009, Pt. CXXXVII, No. 5, pp. 1–16.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vasil’ev, N.V., Chevychelov, V.Y., Zaraisky, G.P. et al. Tantalum-niobium mineralization of the Taikeu ore cluster, the Polar Urals. Geol. Ore Deposits 51, 537–548 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701509070034

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701509070034

Keywords

Search

Navigation