Hi Alex,
 
   The rare earth elements form a natural resource that are used increasingly in high-technology products (e.g. permanent magnets and alloys for miniaturization of electrical components, TV screen phosphors, etc.). At present, 97% of world production of rare earth oxides is from China (Hedrick, 2008...Minerals Yearbook), and much of that is from one super-large ore deposit at Bayan Obo, in Inner Mongolia, China (remote location!).
 
  Despite the importance of the deposit, its origin still has a lot of unanswered questions, though many authors are moving towards a carbonatite magma and/or fluid involvement. Personally, I've published a few papers on it, and am about to submit the first of two zircon papers, helping to elucidate the geological history. Chinese researchers and others from the US and Europe continue to work on the very complex mineralogy and parageneses, and big strides have been made in the last 10 years.
 
   Talking of carbonatites - are you aware of a new development in the mapping of World Carbonatite occurrences (Woolley and Kjarsgaard 2008), and of newly recognized extrusive carbonatites (see Ken Bailey's publications)? These studies have implications for natural global CO(2) budgets, which in turn, can feed into climate models.
 
  A colleague and myself have realized something major, and very exciting from the carbonatite work above, and next year we shall be building evidence for an article in the journal Nature. At this stage, I can't say more, but if your timings go on into 2010, then it could be of interest (CO2 again).
 
With best regards,
Linda Campbell.
 
Dr. L. S. Campbell,
Research Institute for the Built and Human Environment (BuHu),
School of Environment and Life Sciences,
Peel Building,
The University of Salford,
Greater Manchester,
M5 4WT
+44 (0)161 295 2143

________________________________

From: The Mineral Deposits Studies Group listserver on behalf of Alex Hemingway
Sent: Fri 03/10/2008 11:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Major BBC documentary project




Dear All,

I'm working on a major new BBC science project, a follow up to 2007's "Earth: Power of the Planet". The aim of the new series is to reveal the influence of planetary forces (geology, climate, geomorphology) in shaping human history over the last 10,000 years. Like "Power of the Planet", the series needs to be visually spectacular, full of great locations, and featuring cutting edge science.

As part of the planning for the series I'd like to ask for your help.

- We're looking for exciting science projects underway in remote or visually stunning parts of the world. 

- Do you know of any major projects or expeditions of a geological / historical nature that might be happening over the next 12 months? 

- And can you think of any spectacular locations that have been rarely or never filmed that we should be looking to visit? 

If you know of anything and would be happy to share it with me or discuss it with me further I would be delighted to hear from you. My contact details are given below.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Kind regards, 

Alex 

------------------------------------ 
Alex Hemingway 
Series Associate Producer 
How Earth Made Us 

BBC Vision - London Factual 
Media Centre, D1 5th Floor, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS 

Tel:    020 800 82513 
Fax:    020 875 26989 
Mob:    07730 619555 
Email:  [log in to unmask] 

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Geo-mineralisation is administered by the Mineral Deposits Studies Group (UK)
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