Abstract
Controversial genetical interpretations on the fluorite occurrences in the leadzinc deposits of the Nördliche Kalkalpen led to the present study. The distribution of the rare-earth elements (REE) in the fluorspar-carbonate assemblages and the fluorspar separates have been determined non-destructively by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis using high resolution γ-spectrometry. A geochemical model describing the distribution of the REE in the two mineral phases of CaCO3 and CaF2 formed syngenetically under marine conditions has been built up in order to elucidate the observed REE abundances in the carbonates and their fluorspar separates. The low and comparable concentrations of REE, the similarity in their relative distribution patterns in carbonate-fluorspar assemblages as compared to those in carbonate sediments observed by other authors and the sedimentary characterization via the Tb/Ca-Tb/La relation criterion revealed by the present study unequivocally suggest a synsedimentary nature of the fluorspar. In addition, the study showed that a diagenetic recrystallization results in a further fractionation of Tb and La with a preferential improverishment in La. Such a phenomenon opens a possible geochemical criterion for the identification of different generations of fluorspars.
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Schneider, HJ., Möller, P. & Parekh, P.P. Rare earth elements distribution in fluorites and carbonate sediments of the east-alpine mid-triassic sequences in the Nördliche Kalkalpen. Mineral. Deposita 10, 330–344 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207892
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207892