Analysis of Carbonatite Genesis and REE Prospecting Significance in Buru Area, Kenya

A number of carbonatites were discovered surrounding the Lake Victoria in Great Rift Valley of East Africa (including Buru area in Kenya). The rock is rich in rare earth elements and other microelements, so it is important to discuss its genesis and relationship with rare earth elements and other microelements. The standardized distribution curve of original mantle of Buru carbonatites is similar to that of mantle-derived carbonatite magma, it is thus suggested that the origin of carbonatite in Buru area is the earth's mantle. Behaviors of miscellaneous rocks are similar to typical mode, but there are many differences too. The order of intrusion is from ultrabasite (metabasalt) to alkaline rock(clinkstone) and carbonatite. Carbonatites were formed at low temperature and low pressure, and its lithofacies was from the volcanic facies to hypabyssal facies. Buru area in Kenya is located between the east and the west branch of East African Great Rift Valley, by stress of the earth's crust, carbonatite intruded upward from the earth's mantle. Carbonatites were formed after the late magmatic differentiation stage, through metasomatism, rare earth elements and other microelements accumulated in further. Rare earth elements and othermicroelements are richer in carbonatites such as igneous calcite carbonatite and dolomite etc., which point the prospecting direction for ore deposit of rare earth elements and other microelements. Carbonatites surrounding the Lake Victoria has very good exploration potential.