Applied Geochemistry最新文献

{"title":"Carbon dioxide removal by enhanced weathering on American green clay tennis courts","authors":"Frank J. Pavia ,&nbsp;Jonathan E. Lambert","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>40,000 tennis courts in the United States are constructed and maintained by spreading basalt feedstock similar to that used for carbon dioxide removal via enhanced rock weathering. Silicate weathering therefore readily occurs on these courts, yet the carbon sequestration associated with this weathering has never been quantified. We have built a model that quantifies net CO₂ sequestration during the lifetime of green clay tennis courts. We calculate gross CO₂ sequestration rates associated with silicate weathering and conduct a lifecycle analysis for emissions during court construction. This allows us to determine net sequestration rates at each court as well as assess the factors that lead to maximal CO₂ sequestration at different sites. We find that transportation distance from the singular Blue Ridge metabasalt processing site is the primary source of emissions for most tennis courts. Taking all factors into account, green clay tennis courts sequester over 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year and the median court becomes net CO₂ negative in 3.5 years. Our emissions analysis also shows that green clay tennis court construction emits 1.6-3 times less carbon dioxide than hard courts do over their entire life cycle. We conclude by discussing the potential for changes in feedstock characteristics and green clay tennis court maintenance practices that can further reduce their carbon footprint and the pathway towards producing verifiable carbon removals on green clay tennis courts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 106737"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147424685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accumulation, speciation, and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments from the urban-rural transition zone of the lower Weihe river, Shaanxi, China: A localized case study","authors":"Caixia Feng ,&nbsp;Chenhui Hou ,&nbsp;Shen Liu ,&nbsp;Huibo Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metal contamination in urban-rural transition zones poses critical threat to both ecosystem integrity and human health. This study presents a localized case analysis investigating the distribution, speciation, and potential sources of six heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni) in sediments from the lower Weihe River, Shaanxi Province, China. Metal partitioning was elucidated using an optimized BCR four-stage sequential extraction procedure coupled with multivariate statistical techniques. Results indicate that metal concentrations followed the descending order of Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Ni &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Cd. While overall pollution levels remained low (predominantly within Level I) with minimal spatial dispersion (CV &lt; 10%), Cd exhibited significantly higher mobility and potential bioavailability compared to other elements. Furthermore, the alkaline nature of the sediments (pH 8.65–9.18) appeared to enhance metal stabilization, as evidenced by the dominance of the residual fraction for most metals. Correlation analysis revealed that Total Organic Carbon (TOC) exerts a significant influence on the reducible and oxidizable fractions of Pb, as well as the residual phases of Zn and Ni. According to sediment quality guidelines, Ni and Cr concentrations occasionally exceeded Threshold Effect Levels (TEL), suggesting intermittent adverse ecological risks. Finally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified three primary factors governing metal distribution, reflecting a complex interplay between geogenic backgrounds and anthropogenic inputs, including agricultural runoff, traffic emissions, and industrial activities. These findings highlight Cd as a priority pollutant for regional environmental remediation and land-use planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 106731"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147425009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial variations in groundwater chemistry in Uganda: Geogenic origins and geochemical controls across diverse hydrogeological settings","authors":"Derick Muloogi ,&nbsp;George J.L. Wilson ,&nbsp;Farah T. Ahmed ,&nbsp;David A. Polya ,&nbsp;Laura A. Richards","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater sustains about 75 % of Uganda's population, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. However, the baseline hydrogeochemistry of operational community water sources remains poorly understood. Using hydrochemical analysis and geochemical modelling, we assessed groundwater inorganic geochemistry and geochemical controls across five distinct hydrogeological settings in Uganda: Precambrian metasedimentary (MS; <em>n = </em>30), granulitic-gneissic complex (GG; <em>n = </em>21), unconsolidated sedimentary (SDM; <em>n</em> = 10), volcanics (VO; <em>n</em> = 7), and metavolcanics (MV; <em>n</em> = 6). Results show that Ca–HCO₃ is the predominant hydrochemical facies in most settings, reflecting limited geochemical evolution, whereas Na–HCO₃ and Na–Cl facies dominate MV and SDM, consistent with cation exchange and advanced geochemical evolution. World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water guidelines for selected targets were exceeded in 3 % of samples (for Fe, F⁻, and Cl⁻), 5 % for Mn, and 14 % for NO₃⁻. By settings, exceedances were: (i) MS – 20 % NO₃⁻, 13 % Mn, and 7 % Cl⁻; (ii) GG – 14 % NO₃⁻, and 5 % Fe; (iii) MV –17 % Fe; and (iv) SDM – 10 % F⁻, indicating more frequent guideline exceedances in MS. Major-ion ratios, including (Na⁺+K⁺)/Cl⁻ ratios (<em>&gt;</em> 1), HCO₃⁻/Na⁺ (1–4), (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺)/HCO₃⁻ (<em>∼</em>0.3–0.8), and (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺)/SO₄²⁻ (&gt;1), are consistent with active silicate weathering, cation exchange, and contributions from carbonate dissolution, with minimal influence from evaporative concentration and gypsum dissolution. Geochemical modelling shows undersaturation for calcite, dolomite, and gypsum, but quartz supersaturation. Thermodynamic modelling indicates kaolinite as the stable secondary mineral in VO, contrasting clinoptilolite in other settings, reflecting active monosiallitisation under rapid flow, well-drained conditions, and low silica accumulation. This study establishes baseline hydrogeochemical characterisation across Uganda's diverse hydrogeologies, highlighting spatial variability and controls to inform targeted, sustainable groundwater management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 106738"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147425012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delineation of wildfire impacts on soil geochemistry and post-fire soil quality assessment: The case of the August 2024 wildfire in NE Attica, Greece","authors":"Panagiotis Papazotos,&nbsp;Triantafyllia Samara,&nbsp;Alexandros Liakopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate-change-intensified wildfires alter soil geochemistry, but their effects on the occurrence, mobility, and mechanisms governing Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) remain poorly understood. This study investigates the impact of the August 11, 2024, wildfire in Attica, Greece, which affected 104 km², on the soil's geochemistry. In October 2024, 52 samples were collected, including Wildfire Ash (WA), Burned Soils (BS), and unburned (Not Burned) soils (NB), while pre-fire soils were used as Reference Soils (RS). Key toxicologically and environmentally important PTEs and PAHs were determined and evaluated. Data were analyzed using chemometrics, statistics, geo-environmental indices, and spatial mapping. WA samples exhibited higher contents of Pb, Zn, Sn, Cd, Cu, and Total PAHs (TPAHs) compared to BS, while As and Hg were elevated in BS. Pb, Cd, and Sn were consistently enriched in both WA and BS relative to NB and RS. Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Geoaccumulation Index (I_geo) indicated high enrichment/pollution for As and Sb, moderate for Pb, Zn, and Cd, and minimal or none for U, Hg, Sn, Cr, Cu, and Ni. Post-fire PTEs and PAH contents were influenced by soil properties (i.e., Soil Organic Matter-SOM, pH), fire severity (i.e., temperature, duration), geological/geochemical background (i.e., mineralogy, geomorphology), land use (vegetation, anthropogenic input), WA dispersion, and element-specific geochemical characteristics (i.e., volatilization, speciation). This research showed that wildfires increase specific PTE and PAH contents, modify their spatial distribution, and increase their environmental mobility. A thorough understanding of wildfire-induced changes in soil geochemistry informs civil protection strategies and advances ecological conservation and public health initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 106730"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147424689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of depth on mineralogy, chemistry and phosphorus sorption capacity of mine drainage residuals from two passive treatment systems","authors":"Dayton M. Dorman,&nbsp;Robert W. Nairn","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mine drainage residuals, predominantly iron oxide minerals, formed in mine drainage passive treatment systems can be beneficially reused as phosphorus sorbing materials. As iron oxides transform over time into more crystalline minerals such as goethite, their sorption capacity for phosphorus and metals may be limited, causing concern for reusing mine drainage residuals as phosphorus sorbents. This laboratory sorption study investigated how mine drainage residuals from two passive treatment systems transformed in situ over time as inferred by depth and how any changes affect phosphorus sorption capacity and potential to release metals. It was found that initially formed mine drainage residuals are primarily ferrihydrite and poorly crystalline goethite with a great specific surface area that transforms into more crystalline goethite with a lesser specific surface area. In laboratory sorption studies, the fresher mine drainage residuals sorbed more phosphorus than older mine drainage residuals, yet all mine drainage residuals removed over 75% of phosphorus within 24 h with a dose of 10 g L⁻¹ and an initial phosphorus concentration of 50 mg L ⁻¹ P. Despite the elevated metal concentrations of the mine drainage residuals, desorption of metals was minimal and did not exceed chronic or acute aquatic life criteria for freshwater systems. This study shows that while mine drainage residuals transform over time and lose some of their phosphorus sorption capacity, it is feasible to use mine drainage residuals as phosphorus sorbents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 106734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147425013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"N2O emissions from two adjacent, seasonally stratified reservoirs in the Wujiang Basin: Influences of N addition and N managements","authors":"Wuyan Wang ,&nbsp;Qingguang Li ,&nbsp;Weiqi Lu ,&nbsp;Shangyi Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) loading significantly influences nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from freshwater ecosystems, but the effects of watershed N management on these emissions remain poorly quantified. This study investigated N₂O dynamics in two adjacent, seasonally stratified reservoirs, Hongfeng (HF) and Baihua (BH), in the Wujiang Basin, China, which share similar climatic and limnological conditions but experience different levels of anthropogenic N input. The downstream BH Reservoir, located closer to urban areas, received higher N loads, resulting in significantly higher nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentrations compared to the upstream HF Reservoir. Correspondingly, BH exhibited remarkably higher surface N₂O concentration and an estimated N₂O emission flux (20.0 μmol m² d⁻¹) approximately double that of HF (9.6 μmol m² d⁻¹). Historical data revealed that N₂O emissions peaked during periods of severe pollution (2003–2008) and declined following the implementation of watershed pollution abatement, demonstrating that effective nutrient control not only improves water quality but also materially mitigates N₂O emissions. The seasonal co-variation of N₂O with NH₄⁺ suggests that NH₄⁺ availability directly controls the short-term production rates, which accords the generally-accepted viewpoint that nitrification is the main pathway of N₂O production in reservoirs. On the other hand, NO₃⁻ influences the long-term baseline emission potential via phytoplankton-mediated recycling. These findings highlight that managing anthropogenic N inputs is crucial and effective for reducing N₂O emissions from deep reservoirs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 106702"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of tectonics and fluid circulations on shale gas isotope geochemistry – A case study of the Rietheim Member at the Mont Terri anticline (Switzerland)","authors":"Catherine Lerouge ,&nbsp;Michaela Blessing ,&nbsp;Marie Bonitz ,&nbsp;Ana-Maria Fernández ,&nbsp;Christine Flehoc ,&nbsp;Nicolas Maubec ,&nbsp;Guillaume Wille ,&nbsp;David Jaeggi ,&nbsp;Michael Kühn","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the framework of the hydrological survey of the Mont Terri anticline (Mont Terri rock Laboratory in the Folded Jura, Switzerland), a 58 m-deep borehole (BHS-1) was drilled through the Jurassic low permeability shale sequence. Dedicated sampling was carried out to characterize gases within a 13 m-thick unit of organic matter-rich Early Jurassic Rietheim black shales and adjacent units, including the underlying Beggingen aquifer. A cone-in-cone calcite, observed at the bottom of the black shale, as identified as an indicator of oil-window conditions and records a maximal burial temperature of ∼80–90 °C. Two fracture zones within the black shales, marked by calcite infillings, provide evidence for at least two episodes of water paleocirculations: (1) an early circulation between fractures at the top of black shales and the Main Fault, and (2) a later circulation between fracture zones within the black shales and the lower Beggingen aquifer. Gas migration was investigated within the complex geological context of regional uplift, Jura folding and thrusting, and associated water flows. Alkane data reveal a partial carbon isotope reversal of thermogenic gases within the black shales between the two fracture zones, strongly suggesting alkane migration linked to the second water paleocirculation episode.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 106696"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exceptional methylmercury bioaccumulation in rice grain from karst region with high geological background","authors":"Langfei Wei ,&nbsp;Shaochen Yang ,&nbsp;Ruolan Li ,&nbsp;Rasheed Mohammed Abdul ,&nbsp;Yanxin Hu ,&nbsp;Haiyu Yan ,&nbsp;Baolin Wang ,&nbsp;Haiyan Hu ,&nbsp;Ping Li","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice consumption poses significant methylmercury (MeHg) exposure risks for residents in mercury (Hg) contaminated areas, yet the corresponding health risks in high geological background (HGB) regions remain overlooked. Here, we systematically evaluated rice Hg levels across two HGB karst regions (DH and XL) and a general background area (XN), and compared them with a Hg mining area (WWR). Despite soil total Hg (THg) concentrations in all study areas being below Chinese risk screening value (0.6 mg/kg, 6.5 &lt; pH ≤ 7.5) and significantly lower than those in WWR, DH rice exhibited alarming THg levels (21.8 ± 13.1 ng/g, n = 131), with 48.5 % exceeding Chinese safety limit (20 ng/g). This was much higher than those from XL (3.26 ± 1.23 ng/g, n = 140), XN (1.91 ± 0.68 ng/g, n = 138), and even in WWR (14.2 ± 6.9 ng/g, n = 24). Furthermore, DH exhibited remarkably elevated MeHg bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for rice grains (27.3 ± 14.6, n = 25) compared to XL (1.40 ± 1.00, n = 25) and WWR (7.88 ± 6.93, n = 24). Principal component analysis (PCA) integrated with MeHg BAFs and translocation factors (TFs) revealed exceptional MeHg bioaccumulation capacity in DH rice, predominantly attributed to elevated MeHg uptake through rice root system. Our findings highlight a potential underestimation of Hg levels in rice from HGB regions, and propose inhibiting root uptake from soil as a viable strategy to mitigate Hg accumulation in rice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 106695"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monazite chemistry for iron sulfide-copper-gold exploration in the Mount Isa Province, Queensland, Australia","authors":"Travis Batch ,&nbsp;Caroline Tiddy ,&nbsp;Adrienne Brotodewo ,&nbsp;David Giles ,&nbsp;Courteney Dhnaram ,&nbsp;Vladimir Lisitsin","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The chemistry of hydrothermal monazite can be used as an indicator of iron sulfide-copper-gold (ISCG) mineralisation based on a case study of the Kulthor deposit in the Cloncurry District. Monazite associated with mineralisation has elevated La, Nd and S, and a moderately negative chondrite-normalised Eu anomaly, and is typically polycrystalline and intimately associated with pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Monazite from mineralised and unmineralised rocks can be separated on a plot of Ce versus La + Nd using a line with the equation y = 0.95x. Monazite that is found within unmineralised rocks is enriched in Y, Dy, Th and U relative to mineralised samples and have a strong negative chondrite-normalised Eu anomaly. A plot of Y versus Dy shows two distinct gradients for the monazite analyses, whereby monazite analyses in unmineralised rocks follow the gradient of 0.24 (r² = 0.946), in contrast to mineralisation-associated and proximal monazite analyses which follow a gradient of 0.47 (r² = 0.889). Monazite grains from unmineralised rocks have well defined, jagged grain boundaries and commonly contain inclusions of zircon, apatite, rutile and xenotime. Integration of monazite data from Kulthor with a previous study on the nearby Jericho ISCG deposit allowed development of geochemical discrimination diagrams for ISCG deposits whereby Ca/Th ratios &gt;5 and S/Th ratios &gt;0.1 are indicative of monazite associated with ISCG mineralisation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 106674"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering critical factors of rare metal mineralization: New insights from machine learning analysis of zircon geochemistry data","authors":"Yunfei Zhang ,&nbsp;Lei Liu ,&nbsp;Sun Jiandong ,&nbsp;Heng Liu ,&nbsp;Chuangye Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhou Weijian","doi":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apgeochem.2026.106686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rare metal (Li, Be, Nb, Ta, Rb, Cs) deposits, one of the world's primary sources of lithium, have seen rapidly growing demand due to the accelerated development of strategic emerging industries. The formation of these deposits is closely associated with magmatic-hydrothermal processes that produce highly fractionated pegmatites. However, post-mineralization processes can obscure geochemical signatures recorded in rocks and minerals, inevitably introducing uncertainty when using conventional discrimination diagrams to assess the mineralization potential of pegmatites. To address this uncertainty, we developed a novel semi-supervised machine learning (ML) approach that integrates XGBoost and BPNN (backpropagation neural network) in parallel fusion. This method leverages zircon trace element data to decipher critical mineralization indicators from single-mineral geochemical signatures, aiding in the effective evaluation of pegmatite mineralization potential. To ensure model transparency and interpretability, we employed Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) for model interpretation. The results revealed the following: (1) high δCe-high U-high Eu values represent a diagnostic signature of granitic zircons; (2) high δEu-high Yb-high Pr values are characteristic of pegmatitic zircons; while (3) high Tb-high Nd-high Pr values comprise the key discriminant of zircons within mineralized pegmatites. The parallel-fused XGBoost + BPNN model demonstrates robust capability in differentiating between granite- and pegmatite-hosted zircons and zircons within mineralized and barren pegmatites, therefore providing a reliable tool for assessing regional rare metal mineralization potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8064,"journal":{"name":"Applied Geochemistry","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 106686"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}