ARTYKUŁY I KOMUNIKATY NAUKOWE Dolnokredowe fosforyty z NE obrzeżenia Gór Świętokrzyskich jako potencjalne źródło REE – badania wstępne

Abstract

Lower Cretaceous phosphorites from the NE margin of the Holy Cross Mountains as a potential source of REE – preliminary study.A b s t r a c t. The PGI-NRI conducts geological research on the documentation of occurrence of REE deposits in Poland. The deposit potential may be related to the formation of Lower Cretaceous phosphorites from the NE margin of the Holy Cross Mountains. Two phosphorite deposits were exploited in this region in the past: Chałupki (1936–1959) and Annopol (1952–1970). From the Chałupki old mine dump, 34 samples of fine-grained sand were collected. The pseudonodules were extracted from this sand. The sand from the dump is composed of quartz, francolite (carbonate-rich fluorapatite) Ca5(PO4,CO3)3F, illite and a small amount of feldspar, calcite and heavy minerals. The heavy fraction is composed of zircon, monazite and rutile. Sand has a low content of REE ranging from 47.56 to 185.26 ppm. The phosphorite pseudonodules underwent a detailed mineralogical and chemical analysis. They are composed of francolite, quartz, illite, glauconite, feldspar and minor heavy minerals: zircon and monazite. For the first time, the whole spectrum of REE was analysed in pseudonodules. The ƩREE content in the nodules ranges from 177.37 to 354.18 ppm. This level of REE indicates a serious need for further exploration and research of phosphorite pseudonodules within the whole Lower Cretaceous phosphorite series and moreover, also in the Eocene phosphorite formation in the Lublin region.