Rare Earth Element Signatures of the Bled M’Dena Porphyry Molybdenum-Copper System, Eglab Massif (SW, Algeria)

Abstract

This work depicts the geochemical characteristics and distribution of the rare earth elements (REE) of the Bled M’Dena porphyry Mo-Cu complex which is located in the Eglab-Yetti Junction Zone (Reguibat Rise), SW Algeria. The whole-rock REE data exhibit LREE enrichment relative to HREE (Lagraa et al in J Afr Earth Sci 127:159–174, 2017 [2]), whereas the potential deposits reveal a downward pattern from LREE to HREE, suggesting a higher content of the former REE (Zaras-vandi et al in Ore Geol Rev 70:407–423, 2015 [7]). The Eu anomalies are low (Eu/Eu* = 0.87–1.10) and also show relatively high La/Sm and Sm/Yb values, representing probably thickened crust and indicate the frac-tionation of amphibole with minor garnet. The geochemistry of the host rocks and the REE ore minerals indicate that the Mo-Cu Bled M’Dena porphyry presents similarities with other economic porphyries in the world.