Geological and geochemical characteristics of the Miaoya syenite-carbonatite complex, Central China: Implications for the origin of REE-Nb-enriched carbonatite

Carbonatites are well known as economic resources for rare metals, such as rare earth elements (REE) and Nb. However, the origin and evolutionary processes of carbonatites and related silicate rocks as well as the relevant rare metals enrichment mechanism are highly controversial. In this study, we present detailed petrographic observations and geochemical data on the Miaoya syenite-carbonatite complex, which hosts both Nb and REE resources. The...