Rare earth elements in Permian salts and brines, Thuringia, Germany

Salts and brines have very low rare earth element (REE, La-Lu) concentrations. Thus, there is less knowledge of possible transfer of REE patterns during salt dissolution in water-rock interaction. REE levels in both media are close to or rather below limit of detection of commonly used methods. By dissolving salt samples in water followed by REE pre-concentration, REE contents of about 6.2 to 322 ng g(-1) were measured for four samples from the Merkers salt mine, Germany. These salts previously were identified to consist mainly of carnallite, halite and/or sylvite. Assuming congruent dissolution, REE patterns of brines and salts differ. Thus, a more complex interaction with (secondary) phases and complexation of REE should be taken into account to explain REE patterns in brines.