DISTRIBUTION OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS AND YTTRIUM IN HYDROTHERMAL SEDIMENTARY FERROMANGANESE CRUSTS OF THE SEA OF JAPAN (from phase analysis results)
P.E. Mikhailik1,2, E.V. Mikhailik1, N.V. Zarubina1, M.G. Blokhin1
1Far Eastern Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. 100-letiya Vladivostoka 159, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia
2Far Eastern Federal University, ul. Sukhanova 8, Vladivostok, 690950, Russia
Keywords: Rare-earth elements, yttrium, ferromanganese crusts, phase analysis, seamounts, Sea of Japan
Abstract
We have first determined the contents of rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) in four major mineral fractions of hydrothermal sedimentary ferromanganese crusts of the Sea of Japan. It is shown that REY are sorbed mostly by Fe oxyhydroxides (FeOOH). The REY content in the residual aluminosilicate fraction is the second most important factor determining the crust composition. The manganese fractions, composing more than 80 vol. % of the crusts, plays a subordinate role in REY accumulation. The REY pattern of hydrothermal sedimentary crusts in back-arc basins depicts the sum of the REY contents of the FeOOH fraction (hydrogenous) and residual fractions containing the total REY of the products of bedrock disintegration and endogenous (pyroclastic material) and exogenous (desert dust) components.
|
