中国研究人员深入调查土耳其最大稀土矿床
China carries out in-depth investigation of Turkey’s largest rare earth deposit
中国研究人员绘制了土耳其基兹尔贾奥伦矿床的地质演化图，揭示碳酸岩相关地层中稀土元素的聚集过程。研究人员认为，该矿床矿化规模较小，短期内不太可能成为现有稀土供应国的重要替代来源；目前也没有证据表明土耳其或中东其他国家拥有大型稀土矿床。
Chinese researchers have mapped the complex geological evolution of Turkey’s Kizilcaoren deposit, offering fresh insights into the country’s most significant known rare earth reserve while dampening expectations over its commercial potential.
Although the findings shed light on how rare earth elements accumulate in carbonatite-related formations, the researchers concluded that the site was unlikely to emerge as a major global alternative to existing producers any time soon.
Lead scientist Professor Yang Xiaoyong noted that the deposit’s mineralisation was “small in scale” and “still far from reaching the large scale of rare earth deposits”. The findings point to the steep geological and economic barriers nations face as they attempt to diversify their sources of critical minerals.
“So far, there is no evidence that Turkey or other countries in the Middle East have substantial rare earth deposits,” Yang, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and Hebei GEO University, said in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
来源：南华早报 · scmp.com