OCCURRENCES OF THE RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN BAUXITE AND KAOLIN CLAYS, COASTAL PLAIN, GEORGIA

Whole rock samples of bauxite, kaolin and a glassy bauxite from Wilkinson County GA contained significant amounts of the rare-earth elements, select trace (Zr, Hf, others) and major (Al, Ti) elements on a whole rock basis. The rare-earth elements (REE) were enriched in the heavy rare-earth elements (HREE: Y, Gd-Lu) relative to Upper Continental Crust (UCC) for the bauxite clays. A significant enrichment of HREE, up to twelve times relative to UCC, was observed in a previously uncharacterized layer informally referred to as “Glassy Clay. This glassy clay is a titanium-rich clay that forms a transition zone between the kaolin and bauxite layers. The total concentration of the REE for the Glassy Clay was 566 mg/kg; 602 mg/kg for the LREE-rich kaolin. These glassy clay was also significantly enriched in titanium oxide, as much as 9.5 times relative to UCC. A highly weathered surface bauxite contained an enrichment in Sc. The kaolin clays were more enriched in the light REE (Sc, La-Sm). The occurrences of the REE comprise a resource of REE which conceivably can be co-produced from the mining of kaolin and bauxite clays.