Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C

Abstract Rare earth element exploration requires a quantitative understanding of factors governing their mobilization and economic concentration. However, the behavior of rare earth elements in carbonate-bearing hydrothermal fluids associated with carbonatite-hosted deposits is poorly understood, an...

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Main Authors: Margaret E. Reece, Artas A. Migdisov, Anthony E. Williams-Jones, Andrew C. Strzelecki, Laura Waters, Hakim Boukhalfa, Xiaofeng Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02334-w
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author Margaret E. Reece
Artas A. Migdisov
Anthony E. Williams-Jones
Andrew C. Strzelecki
Laura Waters
Hakim Boukhalfa
Xiaofeng Guo
author_facet Margaret E. Reece
Artas A. Migdisov
Anthony E. Williams-Jones
Andrew C. Strzelecki
Laura Waters
Hakim Boukhalfa
Xiaofeng Guo
author_sort Margaret E. Reece
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Rare earth element exploration requires a quantitative understanding of factors governing their mobilization and economic concentration. However, the behavior of rare earth elements in carbonate-bearing hydrothermal fluids associated with carbonatite-hosted deposits is poorly understood, and conflicting mechanisms of rare earth transport by anionic ligands and alkali behavior have been described. Here, we report quantitative data to characterize the role of carbonate-bearing solutions in the hydrothermal mobilization of neodymium. Solubility studies of neodymium phosphate were performed at temperatures ranging from 100 to 600 °C in carbonate-bearing solutions. The thermodynamic data determined for the predominant complex were used to model the separation of neodymium from thorium in a simple flow-through system based on fluid and mineral compositions characteristic of carbonatite deposits. Our data suggest that neodymium transport is controlled by the stability of the carbonate species NdCO3OHo, and at temperatures of 500–600 °C, the concentrations of neodymium in solutions can reach ~1000 ppm.
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spelling doaj-art-d9be82d631324cb19e446566ad8acfb62025-08-20T03:53:14ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-05-01611810.1038/s43247-025-02334-wStability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °CMargaret E. Reece0Artas A. Migdisov1Anthony E. Williams-Jones2Andrew C. Strzelecki3Laura Waters4Hakim Boukhalfa5Xiaofeng Guo6Los Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryMcGill UniversityLos Alamos National LaboratoryNew Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyLos Alamos National LaboratoryWashington State UniversityAbstract Rare earth element exploration requires a quantitative understanding of factors governing their mobilization and economic concentration. However, the behavior of rare earth elements in carbonate-bearing hydrothermal fluids associated with carbonatite-hosted deposits is poorly understood, and conflicting mechanisms of rare earth transport by anionic ligands and alkali behavior have been described. Here, we report quantitative data to characterize the role of carbonate-bearing solutions in the hydrothermal mobilization of neodymium. Solubility studies of neodymium phosphate were performed at temperatures ranging from 100 to 600 °C in carbonate-bearing solutions. The thermodynamic data determined for the predominant complex were used to model the separation of neodymium from thorium in a simple flow-through system based on fluid and mineral compositions characteristic of carbonatite deposits. Our data suggest that neodymium transport is controlled by the stability of the carbonate species NdCO3OHo, and at temperatures of 500–600 °C, the concentrations of neodymium in solutions can reach ~1000 ppm.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02334-w
spellingShingle Margaret E. Reece
Artas A. Migdisov
Anthony E. Williams-Jones
Andrew C. Strzelecki
Laura Waters
Hakim Boukhalfa
Xiaofeng Guo
Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
Communications Earth & Environment
title Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
title_full Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
title_fullStr Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
title_full_unstemmed Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
title_short Stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate-bearing solutions from 100–600 °C
title_sort stability of aqueous neodymium complexes in carbonate bearing solutions from 100 600 °c
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02334-w
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