REE - phosphate occurrence in the Resende Formation, Paleogene of the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Petrographic studies and SEM/EDS and XRD analyses revealed the presence of a phosphate with Ca and REE (La, Nd) in a mudstone deposit of the Resende Formation, located on the northern border of the Resende Basin. The morphological characteristics (prismatic hexagonal habit) and chemical composition of the phosphate allow including this mineral in the rhabdophane group. This phosphate is authigenic and its origin is related to the dissolution of detritic apatite grains, probably by alkaline hydrothermal solutions. These solutions also provided some of the elements involved in the rhabdophane crystalization.