Geochemistry of rare earth elements and cerium anomaly in sedimentary marine carbonates: modern concepts

Abstract

The article review the geochemistry of rare earth elements (REE) in sedimentary marine carbonates (limestones and dolostones) with respect to using the cerium anomaly as a proxy for redox conditions in ancient seawater. The physicochemical properties of REE and Y, the problem of normalizing their contents in sediments, behavior in the World Ocean and in chemogenic deposits, the origin of La, Ce, Eu, Gd anomalies and their calculations, sample preparation techniques, contamination problem and the influence of non-carbonate REE+Y-hosting phases to whole rock and acidic leachate compositions, as well as criteria for determining seawater-like pattern are considered.