THE CERIUM ANOMALY TRACER FOR SEDIMENTARY TECTONIC ENVIRONMENT: A Case Study of the Bahuang Phosphorite Deposit in Tongren, Guizhou Province

Rare earth element analysis reveals that the phosphorite and wallrock in the Bahuang phosphorite deposit show a remarkable negative Ce anomaly, indicating that the phosphorite is typical marine sediment deposited in ancient pericontinental sea with relatively deep water. Such sedimentary tectonic environment is in accord with the conclusion by the regional lithofacies paleogeographic study, suggesting that the Ce anomaly is a good tracer for sedimentary paleotectonic environment.