Abundance of rare-earth elements in the Earth’s crust: Evidence for origin of granites and recent sedimentary rocks

Abstract

In accordance with the average RE content of sedimentary and magmatic rocks the abundance of RE in the Earth’s crust is estimated as being close to 100 ~ 110ppm. The evolution of RE composition and content of the sedimentary cover of the continents (in particular the appearance of europium deficiency in young sediments) is conditioned by the influence of the material predominantly from acid magmas which are generated in the crust. © 1976, GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.