Database of samples collected from carbonatite-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposits in Finland, China, and Angola (2023-2024)

Database of samples collected or utilised in the project SCREED: Supergene enrichment of carbonatite-hosted REE deposits. Samples were collected from Sokli (Finland), Miaoya (China), and Longonjo (Angola) carbonatite complexes. Archival materials were also collected from the Mushgai Khudug (Mongolia), Tomtor (Russia), and Dong Pao (Vietnam) carbonatite complexes. Samples were collected either as field grab samples, with locations determined by handheld GPS, or from archive drill core provided by Sokli Oy, Finland and Pensana Ltd., Angola. Samples were collected through weathered carbonatite materials into the upper bedrock. Samples from Sokli and Lonjongo specifically targeted REE-enriched, thick (40-100m) lateritic materials from sites undergoing active mineral exploration for supergene REE resources. Samples from Miaoya targeted incipiently weathered materials, including clays from a carbonatite-syenite complex, to characterise early stages of weathering and contrasting weathering styles. Samples from Tomtor and Dong Pao represent REE mineralised material from additional lateritic REE deposits. The samples were acquired by teams from the School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, with the assistance of staff from Sokli Oy (Finland) and Pensana Ltd. (Angola), and collaborators from the China University of Geosciences and the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (China).