The application of Tb/Ca-Tb/La abundance ratios to problems of fluorspar genesis

A comprehensive review of the authors' and their co-workers' results on the fractionation of Rare Earth Elements (REE) during the crystallization and/or recrystallization of Fluorspar is given. The fractionation can be explained as the result of REE complexation in the ore forming solution and systematic changes in distribution coefficients of REE. It is shown that the Tb/Ca and Tb/La ratios are sufficient to characterize pegmatitic (pneumatolytic), hydrothermal and sedimentary fluorspar. This has been confirmed by numerous investigations on various types of deposits.