In a paper published in the journal Economic Geology, the researchers point out that despite the growing importance of these essential raw materials, exploration models for REE are comparatively less developed than those for major and precious metals such as iron, copper and gold.
To address this, the teams involved in the project decided to use both geophysical and geochemical approaches to create their model. In other words, their solution is based on a compilation of maps, geophysical and geochemical data, and petrological observations from alkaline igneous systems worldwide.
According to the experts, groups of alkaline igneous rocks with a common geological history occur at many localities around the world and are common hosts of REE deposits.
