Geochemical characteristics of the niobium-rich arfvedsonite granites, Younger Granites province of Nigeria

The REE fractionation patterns in all three arfvedsonite granite varieties are characterized by enrichment of both the light (La-Sm) and heavy (Gd-Lu) rare earth elements and a significant negative Eu anomaly. The albite arfvedsonite granite is, however, preferentially more enriched in the heavy REE relative to the aegirine arfvedsonite and the arfvedsonite granites. A plot of the ∑REE against Na2O and niobium reveals positive correlation in the arfvedsonite granites. There is also a linear relationship and strongly positive correlation between Nb and Na2O because the pyrochlore is most abundant in the most extensively albitized variety of the arfvedsonite granites.