Trace-element partitioning between apatite and carbonatite melt

Abstract

To establish more fully a basis for quantifying the role of apatite in trace-element fractionation processes, hitherto unknown mineral/melt partition coefficients (Dapatite/melt) for a variety of trace elements (Li, Be, B, K, Cs, Rb, Ba, Th, U, Nb, Ta, La, Ce, Sr, Pr, Hf, Zr, Sm, Gd, Y, Lu, and Pb) have been measured between fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F], chlorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3Cl], and hydroxylapatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] and carbonatite melt.