The mineral exploration of rare earth elements using the optimal sampling pattern in Baghak mine

Abstract

In current study, sampling from the Baghak anomaly in Sangan mines has been carried out based on radioactivity and radiation measurement methods. The goal of this study is to survey the presence or absence of such a relation (between rare earth and radioactive elements) in a skarn mine which is a different case study in central Iran. Mineralogical studies (based on optical and electronic microscopic observations), univariate and multivariate statistical investigations and geochemical analyses are applied. Results show that the Baghak anomaly is due to a significant amount of U, Ce, La and a high concentration of REEs. It seems that mineralization of Th and REEs occurred simultaneously with the formation of iron skarn, while uranium mineralization in hydrothermal form occurred in a secondary phase after the skarn iron mineralization. Finally, it could be acknowledged that in addition to presence of such a relation in the mineralization (central Iran mineralizations), there is an acceptable correlation between these elements in Baghak iron-skarn mineralization.

Keywords

• radiation measurement methods
• rare earth elements
• radioactive elements
• baghak anomaly
• sangan
• iran