Ion-adsorbed rare earth ore exploration method and application

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of ion adsorption type rare earth ore exploration methods, comprising the following steps: S1.Statistical survey area ore-forming parent rock total rock rare earth element and K2O content;The total amount of rare earth elements in the ore-forming parent rock and the content of K2O are positively correlated, and the total amount of rare earth elements in the ore-forming parent rock and the content of K2O are used as the rock geochemical index of the ion adsorption type rare earth ore mineralization potential evaluation and target area screening;S2.Prepare the total alkali and K2O distribution map of the survey area;S3.Combined analysis of the total alkali and K2O distribution map and the weathering crust distribution map in the survey area, carry out the rapid evaluation of ore-forming prospect area and the screening of exploration target area;S4.Establish the comprehensive evaluation system of the mineralization potential of the exploration target area, and carry out the rapid positioning of ore body.The exploration method of the application has high exploration efficiency, accurate target area screening, low cost and simple operation, reliable ore body positioning, and has strong applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of geological and mineral exploration, specifically to an ion adsorption-type rare earth mineral exploration method and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Rare earth elements are indispensable key elements for transforming traditional industries, developing emerging industries, and the defense science and technology industry. Due to their irreplaceable optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, rare earth elements are hailed as "industrial vitamins" and "the mother of new materials." From 2008 to 2012, rare earth elements were successively listed as critical mineral resources by major economies worldwide, including Europe, the United States, and Japan. In 2016, the National Mineral Resources Plan established its first strategic mineral catalog, which included rare earth minerals.

[0003] Rare earth resources are unevenly distributed globally. The combined rare earth resources of China, Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia account for over 80% of the world's total. In 2024, global rare earth production was 390,000 tons, with the combined production of China, the United States, Myanmar, Australia, and Thailand accounting for 95% of global production. my country accounts for 48% of global rare earth reserves and 60% of global production. my country has long maintained its position as the world's largest producer, exporter, and consumer of rare earth resources.

[0004] Medium- and heavy rare earth elements are the most important and precious components of rare earth elements, widely used in new materials, advanced manufacturing, and defense technology. They are of significant strategic importance to national security, the development of strategic emerging industries, and the high-quality development of the national economy. Ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits are the most important source of medium- and heavy rare earth elements. Due to their large reserves, simple mining, and low cost, they are one of the most advantageous and important types of rare earth deposits in my country. The vast majority of the world's medium- and heavy rare earth raw materials come from ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits in five southern provinces of my country (Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Hunan).

[0005] Currently, over 90% of the ion-adsorption type rare earth minerals discovered in my country are located in the low-latitude, low-altitude, and gently rolling hilly terrain of South my country. The Kuanyu rare earth deposit in the Panxi region of Sichuan is the first ion-adsorption type (medium-heavy) rare earth deposit discovered domestically and globally in a high-latitude, high-altitude mountainous terrain. Current research on the metallogenic theory and exploration methods of ion-adsorption type rare earth minerals is mainly based on studies and summaries of typical deposits in low-latitude, low-altitude hilly terrain. Research and summaries on the metallogenic regularity and exploration theories and methods of ion-adsorption type rare earth minerals in higher-altitude, more varied mountainous terrain environments are still lacking in China.

[0006] Existing exploration methods for ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits mostly involve hydrogeological surveys, hydrogeochemical sample collection, and HR-ICP-MS sample testing for analysis and determination. For example, patent CN114858901B describes an exploration method for ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits, but its measurement method is relatively complex and requires large-scale instruments. Patent CN119291801A utilizes GIS spatial analysis technology to delineate favorable mineralization topographic and geomorphic areas and employs rare earth ion leaching titration precipitation methods to verify mineralization anomalies. However, these methods do not consider exploration in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a simple, efficient, and accurate exploration method for ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an ion adsorption-based rare earth mineral exploration method and its application, so as to achieve the effect of rapid and accurate target area screening and ore body location.

[0008] To solve the above problems, this application adopts the following technical solution: An exploration method for ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits includes the following steps: S1. Statistical survey of the whole-rock rare earth element and K2O content of the ore-forming parent rock in the survey area; the total rare earth element content and K2O content of the whole-rock rare earth element in the ore-forming parent rock are positively correlated, and the total rare earth element content and K2O content of the whole-rock rare earth element in the ore-forming parent rock are used as rock geochemical indicators for evaluating the mineralization potential of the ion adsorption type rare earth mineral and screening target areas. S2. Compile a distribution map of total alkali and K2O in the surveyed area; S3. Combine the distribution maps of total alkali and K2O with the distribution map of weathering crust in the survey area for analysis, and conduct rapid evaluation of mineralization prospective areas and screening of exploration target areas; S4. Establish a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of the exploration target area and conduct rapid ore body location.

[0009] Specifically, in S1, the topography of the ore bodies in the survey area includes: ridge-type, foothill-type, and gentle valley-top type; Specifically, in S1, the parent rocks of the ion-adsorption type rare earth minerals include: biotite monzogranite, muscovite, cordierite, granite, and alkaline rocks; Specifically, the geochemical properties of the parent rock are peraluminous or aluminum-saturated, with a K2O content greater than 3.5%. Specifically, the total rare earth element content of the parent rock is 216~775 ppm.

[0010] Specifically, in S2, the total alkali includes Na2O and K2O; Among them, total alkali content is an important content indicator that can measure the relationship between alkalinity and silica content. The degree of rock alkalinity can be represented by the Rittmann index (σ), as shown in formula (1): (1) Therefore, compiling a total alkali distribution map of the survey area can intuitively reveal the spatial variation law of alkalinity in regional rocks, providing key chemical constraints for classifying magmatic rock assemblages and identifying tectonic environments. As an important component of total alkali, K2O's separate distribution map has irreplaceable indicative significance. By compiling a K2O distribution map, potassic alteration zones, potassic metasomatism ranges, and potential potassic magma source areas of the rock masses in the survey area can be further identified, providing refined indicators for regional magmatic evolution and mineralization prediction. Therefore, in the geological and geochemical research of the survey area, compiling both total alkali and K2O distribution maps can not only grasp the alkalinity characteristics and rock alkalinity series as a whole, but also combine the geological significance of potassium.

[0011] Specifically, in S3, the weathering crust is the carrier of the ion-adsorption type rare earth ore body, and the specific types include: lateritic type and non-latrine type; The weathering crust can be divided into the following layers based on the color, mineral composition, clay mineral types, structure, and permeability of each sublayer of the soil: topsoil layer, red clay layer, completely weathered layer, semi-weathered layer and slightly weathered layer, and bedrock layer. Among them, the red soil weathering crust represents a type of weathering crust that is fully developed and relatively well preserved. The five sub-layers, namely the topsoil layer, the brick-red clay layer, the fully weathered layer, the semi-weathered layer, the slightly weathered layer, and the bedrock layer, are well developed. The weathering crust is thick, with the development of the brick-red clay layer as a typical feature. The non-latrine weathering crust represents a type of weathering crust that is underdeveloped or damaged in the area, with incomplete stratigraphic development and missing some sub-layers in the red clay layer and the entire weathering layer.

[0012] Specifically, in S4, the specific methods for establishing a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of the exploration target area include: By establishing evaluation indicators and parameter assignments such as relative elevation difference and terrain slope, weathering crust thickness, red clay layer distribution and thickness, vegetation type and coverage, a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of the exploration target area under the high latitude and high altitude mid-mountain terrain conditions was established. Specifically, in S4, the method for rapid locating the ore body includes: combining the comprehensive evaluation system of the mineralization potential of the exploration target area with the verification analysis of artificial outcrops and artificial shallow drilling to rapidly locate the ore body.

[0013] On the other hand, an ion adsorption type rare earth mineral exploration system is characterized by specifically including: The data acquisition module is used to acquire topographic, weathering crust, and parent rock geochemical data; the analysis and evaluation module is used to evaluate the mineralization potential of the exploration method; and the output module is used to generate the prospective mineral area map and the target area location map.

[0014] On the other hand, the exploration method is applied in the exploration of ion adsorption type rare earth deposits.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this application are: (1) This application is the first systematic summary and exploratory study in China and the world on the metallogenic geological conditions, deposit geological characteristics, metallogenic regularity, key ore-controlling factors and their principles of ion adsorption type rare earth deposits in mountainous terrain conditions in high latitude and high altitude areas. (2) This application proposes to use the methods of compiling the distribution map of total alkali and K2O of the parent rock in the survey area, compiling the distribution map of the weathering crust in the survey area, and comprehensively referencing the topographic slope, the distribution and thickness of the red clay layer, the vegetation type and coverage as comprehensive evaluation indicators for the mineralization potential of prospective areas and target areas. This has important practical guiding significance for the exploration of similar deposits under similar topographic conditions, and fills the domestic gap in the summary and research of the mineralization law and exploration theory and methods of ion adsorption type rare earth minerals in the mountainous terrain environment of high latitude and high altitude areas. (3) The exploration method of this application has high exploration efficiency. By utilizing the positive correlation between the total rare earth content and K2O content of the whole rock of the ore-forming parent rock, K2O is used as a rapid and easily measurable geochemical indicator to replace the complex full analysis of rare earth elements, which significantly improves the speed of regional mineralization potential evaluation and target area screening. (4) The target area screening using the exploration method of this application is accurate. By compiling the distribution maps of total alkali and K2O and overlaying them with the weathering crust distribution map, this application can intuitively and quickly delineate areas that simultaneously have high rare earth background values ​​and favorable weathering conditions, effectively improving the prediction accuracy of exploration prospective areas. (5) The method of this application is low-cost and easy to operate, avoiding the large-scale and high-density soil or water sediment sampling and analysis in traditional methods. Only a small number of rock samples need to be collected to analyze the K2O content, and the preliminary evaluation can be completed by combining with the existing weathering crust distribution map, which greatly reduces the initial investment in exploration. The method of this application has clear steps and clear indicators, which are easy for field geologists to master and apply, and facilitates rapid decision-making in the field. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of this application; Figure 2 This is a graph showing the relationship between the total rare earth content and K2O content in the parent rock of ion-adsorption type rare earth ore in Example 1. Figure 3 This is a topographic map of the Kuanyu mining area and its surrounding area in Example 2 (base map from NASA 2019). Figure 4 This is a typical cross-sectional structure of the laterite weathering crust in the mining area in Example 2; Figure 5 Example 2 shows three types of topography and longitudinal profiles of the Kuanyu rare earth ore body (AA′ ridge type, BB′ foothill type, CC′ gentle valley top type). Figure 6 Example 2 illustrates the vertical variation characteristics of the leaching phase grade of rare earth elements in three types of ore bodies in a rare earth mine in Sichuan. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solution of this application is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the following description.

[0018] Example 1: Investigating the relationship between total rare earth content and K2O content in the parent rock of ion-adsorption type rare earth ore. The parent rock of the Kuanyu rare earth deposit is mainly coarse-grained (porphyritic) biotite monzogranite. The rock exhibits high silica, high alkali, high potassium, and a high K₂O / Na₂O ratio, characteristic of peraluminous granites, and belongs to the high-potassium calc-alkaline granite category. The average total rare earth element content (REE+Y) of the whole rock is 269.7 × 10⁻⁶. -6 Although it is higher than the average content of 167.8×10⁻⁶ granite. -6 However, the ore-forming parent rock content is lower than that of rare earth deposits in South China and Yunnan, and it is located at the lower left end of the REE+Y-K2O array. The low (REE+Y) content of the parent rock is the key intrinsic factor leading to the predominance of low-grade ore in the Kuanyu rare earth ore body. Figure 2 ).

[0019] Example 2: Specific Implementation Steps for Rapid Evaluation and Target Area Screening of Mineralization Prospect Areas Rapid evaluation and target area selection for ion-adsorption rare earth mineralization prospective areas require systematic integration of multi-source data: First, use DEM data to calculate relative elevation differences (recommended <200 meters) and topographic slopes (preferably gentle slopes of 5°–25°) to exclude steep slope erosion areas; second, obtain weathering crust thickness (target >5 meters) and red clay layer distribution (highlighting areas with enriched layers >3 meters) through geological drilling, geophysical exploration, and remote sensing interpretation; simultaneously, interpret vegetation type (low shrubs are better than dense forests) and coverage (<30% is preferred) using multispectral / high-resolution satellite imagery to avoid areas prone to detection interference. Finally, overlay geological structures, parent rock distribution, and other factors to delineate target areas with intact weathering crusts, well-developed clay layers, and excellent detection conditions.

[0020] (1) Topography and landforms Taking a rare earth ion-adsorption type mining area in Sichuan Province as an example, it is located on the eastern edge of the Hengduan Mountains in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The three mountain ranges—Laba Mountain (main ridge above 3300 m), Luoji Mountain (main ridge 3900-4300 m), and Qipan Mountain-Xian Mountain (main ridge 2800-3140 m)—along with the Anning River Valley and the Cida River Valley nestled between them, constitute a typical mid-mountain valley topography. Figure 3 The mining area is located in the Nanshan Mountains, a secondary mountain range within the Qipanshan-Xianshan Mountains. The Nanshan Mountains slope downwards in the north and upwards in the south, and are divided into three sections—north, central, and south—based on the absolute elevation of the main ridge and the relative elevation difference between the ridge and valleys. The northern section has an elevation of 1650–2100 m and a relative elevation difference between the ridge and valleys of 450–550 m; the central section has an elevation of 2100–2500 m and a relative elevation difference between the ridge and valleys of 550–800 m; and the southern section has an elevation of 2100–2720 m and a relative elevation difference between the ridge and valleys of 850–1200 m. Figure 3 Based on this, the northern section is of moderate dissection, while the central and southern sections are of moderate to strong dissection.

[0021] (2) Weathering crust Based on the thickness and stratigraphic characteristics of the weathering crust, the weathering crust in the mining area can be divided into lateritic and non-latrine types. Lateritic weathering crust represents a fully developed and relatively well-preserved type, characterized by a relatively thick layer of lateritic clay. From top to bottom, the lateritic weathering crust consists of a topsoil humus layer, a lateritic clay layer, a completely weathered layer, a semi-weathered layer, and a bedrock layer. The thickness of the upper three layers is typically greater than 12–15 m. Figure 4 Non-latrine weathering crust is characterized by the absence of lateritic clay layers and / or partial sublayers within the completely weathered layer. The thickness of the first three layers of the weathering crust is typically less than 5–8 m.

[0022] Topsoil (humus) layer: 0.1~0.5 m thick, usually yellowish-brown. When the organic matter content is high, it is yellowish-brown; when the red clay mineral content increases, it is light reddish-yellow (light red soil).

[0023] Red clay layer: 0.5~2.5 m thick, reddish-brown or crimson, heavy and sticky, with poor water permeability and air permeability. Figure 3 Except for a very small amount of quartz and feldspar minerals, the original granite minerals in this layer have been completely decomposed, and the grain size of the quartz minerals has been significantly reduced.

[0024] Completely weathered layer: 7-12 m thick, reaching 15-20 m in favorable terrain, this is the main host layer for rare earth ore bodies. From top to bottom, the weathering degree of the completely weathered layer gradually decreases, and the soil color changes from brick red (crimson) to yellowish-brown, yellow, yellowish-white, grayish-white, and white. Figure 3The completely weathered layer has a loose structure and good soil permeability. In the middle and lower parts of the completely weathered layer, although the original rock structure of the granite is well preserved, it can be easily crumbled into a loose and (fine) sandy texture by hand. Almost all the minerals in the completely weathered layer have weathered; potassium feldspar has weathered into pink clay minerals, plagioclase into milky white clay minerals, biotite into residual flaky fragments, and quartz has completely disintegrated from the mineral aggregates into granular particles. Figure 3 X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the main minerals constituting this layer include kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite.

[0025] Semi-weathered and slightly weathered layers: 2-3 m thick, gray to grayish-white in color. Although the structure of this layer is still relatively loose and fragile, it contains a considerable proportion (more than 5%-10%) of incompletely weathered mineral aggregates. Easily weathered minerals such as biotite and feldspar are not completely weathered, and kaolinization can be seen at the edges of feldspar particles.

[0026] Bedrock layer: The rocks are mainly physically fractured.

[0027] (3) Mineralization characteristics Using rare earth element leaching amounts of 0.02%, 0.03%, and 0.05% as the mineralization grade, boundary grade, and industrial grade, respectively, ten ore sections were delineated within the mining area. The deposit is mainly composed of low-grade ore (average grade 0.039%), with a small portion being industrial ore bodies (average grade 0.055%). The ore bodies are controlled by the mountainous and valley topography, mainly distributed on the ridges on both sides of the main ridge of Nanshan Mountain, with an elevation ranging from 1427 to 2153 m. Based on the topography of the ore bodies, they are classified into three types: ridge-mountain type, foothill-mountain type, and gentle valley-mountain top type, with the first two being the most prevalent.

[0028] Ridge-type: The ore body is distributed in the middle of the ridge, existing in a layered manner within the weathering crust. It is elongated and lentil-shaped, or arc-shaped and elongated, with its long axis aligned with the mountain's strike. The ore body is centered on the ridge, thick in the middle, gradually thinning and eventually pinching out towards both sides of the ridge. Figure 5 AA′).

[0029] Spur-ridge foothill type: The ore bodies are mainly distributed between the middle and lower parts of the ridge and the foothills. The three-dimensional morphology of the ore bodies depends on the topography of the ridge, and is usually scalloped, with a smaller upper part and a larger lower part, and a thinner upper part and a thicker lower part. The ridge valleys often show obvious deep cuts that divide the ore bodies. Figure 5 BB′). The Zhiliangshan foothill type ore body is a newly discovered type of ore body. In the Panxi region of Sichuan, there is a lack of large-scale low mountain and hilly terrain, and the terrain is mainly composed of medium mountain landforms. The Zhiliangshan foothill type ore body may be one of the main types of ore bodies.

[0030] Gentle valley hilltop type: Distributed in the low, gentle hills of river valleys, on the tops of isolated round or elliptical hills. Due to the gentle terrain, the weathering crust is well-developed and preserved. The ore body shape is often dome-shaped, thick at the top and center, thinning and tending to disappear around the edges, or connected to the ore body of an adjacent hill at the saddle of the hill. Figure 5 CC′). Such ore bodies are extremely limited in distribution.

[0031] Unlike the ion-adsorption rare earth deposits in South China, which are mainly of the standard and deep-dwelling type, the grade of ion-adsorption rare earth deposits in Kuanyu is mainly distributed in shallow and exposed forms in the weathering crust profile, with most ore bodies buried at shallow to very shallow depths. Among them, the ridge-type and foothill-type ore bodies are mainly located at the top or middle to upper part of the completely weathered layer of the weathering crust (such as...). Figure 6 (As shown in Table 1), in most cases, the ore body lies beneath the lateritic clay layer. Some lateritic clay layers have been significantly mineralized or become part of low-grade ore bodies; in extreme cases, the ore body is directly exposed at the surface. Valley-side, gently sloping hilltop ore bodies are extremely limited in distribution within the mining area and contribute little.

[0032] The ion-adsorption rare earth ore in a certain area of ​​Sichuan has a simple mineral assemblage. Besides residual quartz, feldspar, and biotite, it contains weathered kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite. These weathering products often replace feldspar and mica, forming replacement residual structures, and sometimes even pseudomorphic structures due to complete replacement. The rare earth element distribution is mainly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs), but some sections are enriched in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs). The LREE sections are of medium yttrium and low europium type, with Y₂O₃ content of 21%–32% and Eu₂O₃ content of 0.19%–0.55%; the HREE sections are of high yttrium and low europium type, with Y₂O₃ content of 37%–45% and Eu₂O₃ content of 0.11%–0.18%. Leaching experimental analysis data shows that the leaching rate of the Kuanyu ion-adsorption rare earth ore is generally low, ranging from 18% to 55%, mostly between 30% and 40%.

[0033] Table 1. Ionic phase rare earth element content of representative boreholes in a rare earth mine in Sichuan Province (4) Climate factors The Kuanyu ion-adsorption type rare earth ore body is located at an elevation of 1400–2150 m, with some sections reaching 1900–2150 m. The Panzhihua-Xichang region of Sichuan Province, where the Kuanyu rare earth mine is located, has a subtropical plateau monsoon climate with annual rainfall exceeding 1000 mm and an average annual temperature of around 18℃ (Hu Haoran et al., 2015; Chen Qingqing et al., 2017). While the warm and humid plateau monsoon climate of the Kuanyu mining area is conducive to the development of weathering crusts, compared to the South China ion-adsorption rare earth mining areas, the higher elevation, lower average annual temperature, and less annual rainfall (Table 2) affect the intensity of chemical and biological weathering of rocks in the Kuanyu mining area. This results in a limited weathering crust thickness and a generally low rare earth element leaching rate (mainly 30%–40%) in the Kuanyu mining area.

[0034] Table 2. Climate Comparison between Panzhihua-Xichang region of Sichuan and Other Ion Adsorption Rare Earth Mining Areas in China Note: Climate data are from the China Meteorological Administration, 1979; Liu, Mingguang, 2009; elevation data are from NASA et al., 2019. (5) Topography and landforms Topography (slope) strictly controls the type of weathering crust in the Kuanyu mining area, affecting the development of ore bodies. All discovered rare earth ore bodies in the Kuanyu mining area are distributed within lateritic weathering crusts. Lateritic weathering crusts represent well-developed and relatively intact weathering crusts in the mining area, characterized by their thickness and the presence of lateritic clay layers. Non-latitudinal weathering crusts represent underdeveloped or damaged weathering crusts in the mining area, characterized by incomplete stratigraphic development, thinness, and the absence of lateritic clay layers. Regional weathering crust mapping and mountain topographic slope statistics show that lateritic weathering crusts develop only when the topographic slope is less than 22°~20°, such as in gentler sections of the Zhiliang ridge, the protruding parts (foothills) of the lower part of the Zhiliang ridge, and the low, gentle hills in the valleys. Figure 4 When the slope of a ridge or slope is greater than 24°~26°, such as the middle and upper part of a ridge, a non-latrine weathering crust usually develops.

[0035] Topography (slope) plays a crucial role in the weathering crust type of the Kuanyu mining area, and the possible mechanism is as follows: The mining area is influenced by a monsoon climate, with 93% of the annual rainfall concentrated in the rainy season from July to October, resulting in extremely concentrated rainfall. In areas with steep slopes, the weathered crust is highly susceptible to large-scale collapse, even forming large landslides along with the underlying bedrock. Damage to the topsoil (humus) layer and lateritic clay layer above the weathered crust leads to severe erosion and loss of rare earth elements in the underlying fully weathered layer, damaging the ore body. Conversely, in gentler terrain with relatively gentle slopes, surface water flows primarily through slow vertical infiltration, lacking lateral erosion. The weathered crust is fully developed and well-preserved, ultimately forming a thick, lateritic weathered crust.

[0036] The positive role of lateritic clay layers in mineralization within the lateritic weathering crust. Lateritic weathering crusts are characterized by the development of thick lateritic clay layers and completely weathered layers. Numerous studies have shown that the adsorption capacity of clay minerals in the completely weathered layer of the weathering crust for rare earth elements (REEs) is closely related to pH and EH values. Exploration practices in the Kuanyu mining area have demonstrated that the lateritic clay layer has a significant protective effect on the ore bodies in the underlying completely weathered layer. Due to intense aluminization of the soil, the lateritic clay layer exhibits poor permeability and aeration. Poor permeability significantly slows the rapid infiltration of acidic rainwater from the surface humus layer through the lateritic clay layer into the completely weathered layer, reducing the leaching loss of ionic REEs in the completely weathered layer, i.e., acidic leaching. Poor aeration prevents some atmospheric carbon dioxide from entering the completely weathered layer, maintaining a slightly acidic pH, which is conducive to the adsorption and retention of REEs.

[0037] Exploration practices in the Kuanyu ion-adsorption rare earth deposit show that climate and topography (slope) control the intensity of weathering and the degree of weathering crust development, and are the two most important external factors affecting mineralization. Therefore, in the Panxi region of Sichuan and the Zhongshan mountainous terrain, the exploration focus for similar deposits is on areas with lower latitudes and gentler topography (smaller slopes), looking for thick weathering crusts formed by S-type and A-type granites with high parent rock rare earth content. Lateritic clay layers are of significant indicative value for the exploration of thick weathering crusts.

[0038] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be understood that this application is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or the technology or knowledge in related fields. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this application should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for exploring ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Statistical survey of the whole-rock rare earth element and K2O content of the ore-forming parent rock in the survey area; the total rare earth element content and K2O content of the whole-rock rare earth element in the ore-forming parent rock are positively correlated, and the total rare earth element content and K2O content of the whole-rock rare earth element in the ore-forming parent rock are used as rock geochemical indicators for evaluating the mineralization potential of the ion adsorption type rare earth mineral and screening target areas. S2. Compile a distribution map of total alkali and K2O in the surveyed area; S3. The distribution maps of total alkali and K2O are gridded to establish a geochemical anomaly map of the region; the weathering crust development characteristics are extracted by remote sensing image interpretation and principal component analysis, and the weathering crust distribution map of the survey area is extracted. The total alkali anomaly area, K2O anomaly area and weathering crust distribution area are superimposed to conduct rapid evaluation of mineralization prospective areas and screening of exploration target areas. S4. Establish a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of the exploration target area and conduct rapid ore body location.

2. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S1, the topography of the ore bodies in the survey area includes: ridge type, foothill type, and gentle valley top type.

3. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S1, the parent rocks of the ion-adsorption type rare earth minerals include: biotite monzogranite, muscovite, cordierite, granite, and alkaline rocks; The geochemical properties of the parent rock are peraluminous or aluminum-saturated, with a K2O content greater than 3.5%. The total rare earth element content of the parent rock is 216~775 ppm.

4. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S2, the total alkali includes Na2O and K2O.

5. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S3, the weathering crust is the carrier of the ion-adsorption type rare earth ore body, and the specific types include: lateritic type and non-latrine type; Based on the color, mineral composition, clay mineral types, structure, and permeability of each sublayer of soil, the weathering crust can be divided into the topsoil layer, the red clay layer, the fully weathered layer, the semi-weathered layer and the slightly weathered layer, and the bedrock layer.

6. The exploration method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The red clay weathering crust represents a fully developed and relatively well-preserved type of weathering crust. Among them, the five sub-layers, namely the topsoil layer, the brick-red clay layer, the fully weathered layer, the semi-weathered layer, the slightly weathered layer, and the bedrock layer, are well-developed. The weathering crust is thick, with the development of the brick-red clay layer as a typical feature. The non-latrine weathering crust represents a type of weathering crust that is underdeveloped or damaged in the area, with incomplete stratigraphic development and missing some sub-layers in the red clay layer and the entire weathering layer.

7. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S4, the specific methods for establishing a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of the exploration target area include: By establishing evaluation indicators and assigning parameters such as relative elevation difference, terrain slope, weathering crust thickness, red clay layer distribution and thickness, vegetation type and coverage, a comprehensive evaluation system for the mineralization potential of exploration target areas under high-latitude, high-altitude mountainous terrain conditions was established.

8. The exploration method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S4, the method for rapid locating the ore body includes: combining the comprehensive evaluation system of the mineralization potential of the exploration target area with the verification analysis of artificial outcrops and artificial shallow drilling to rapidly locate the ore body.

9. An ion adsorption type rare earth mineral exploration system, characterized in that, Specifically, it includes: The data acquisition module is used to acquire topographic, weathering crust, and parent rock geochemical data; An analysis and evaluation module is used to evaluate the mineralization potential of the exploration method. The output module is used to generate a prospective mining area map and a target area location map.

10. The application of the exploration method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 in the exploration of ion adsorption type rare earth deposits.

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