A
rare earth mineral is a
mineral that contains one or more
rare earth elements as major metal constituents. Rare earth minerals are usually found in association with
alkaline to
peralkaline igneous complexes, in
pegmatites associated with alkaline magmas and in or associated with
carbonatite intrusives.
Perovskite mineral phases are common hosts to rare earth elements within the alkaline complexes.
Mantle-derived carbonate melts are also carriers of the rare earths.
Hydrothermal deposits associated with alkaline magmatism contain a variety of rare earth minerals.