The Geology Department, Trinity College Dublin, will hold a seminar by Prof Hongrui Fan, the deputy director of Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He will give a presentation on the giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit, China: Ore-forming process and controversial debate.

Abstract: 

The Bayan Obo Fe–REE–Nb deposit is the world's largest rare earth element (REE) resource and with the increasing focus on critical metal resources has become a focus of global interest. Accounting for approximately 80% of world's REE reserves this deposit is of critical importance in leading to China's pre-eminence in the global REE market. Such importance has attracted intense scientific study in in understanding the formation of giant size REE deposits, which allows for better targeted exploration. However, there are still remarkable debates of its genesis, especially the REE mineralization process.