Core Viewpoint - The research conducted by the team led by Deng Yinan reveals a new mechanism for the cycling and enrichment of rare earth elements in deep-sea environments, which is significant for understanding the formation of deep-sea rare earth resources [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study identifies a dual cycling model for marine rare earth elements, consisting of a "top-down" removal process and a "bottom-up" release process, highlighting that shallow marine sediments release significant amounts of rare earth elements back into the seawater, while deep-sea sediments retain most of the rare earths [2]. - It was found that the total input of rare earth elements from deep-sea hydrothermal areas to seawater is significantly higher than that from non-hydrothermal areas, primarily due to the presence of hydrothermal manganese-iron oxide particles that release rare earths at the water-rock interface [2]. - The research emphasizes the critical role of early diagenesis at the water-rock interface in influencing the cycling of marine rare earth elements, providing new theoretical perspectives and scientific basis for the assessment and exploration of deep-sea rare earth resources [2].

新华社广州2月19日电（记者周颖）记者19日从中国地质调查局广州海洋地质调查局获悉，该局邓义楠 团队日前在国际期刊《地质学》在线发表论文成果，揭示深海稀土元素循环与富集新机制，对深化理解 深海稀土资源的形成规律具有科学意义。 邓义楠介绍，该研究揭示了早期成岩作用对深海热液区稀土循环与富集的关键控制作用，深化了对全球 海洋稀土循环过程的理解，也为科学评估和勘探深海稀土资源提供了新的理论视角和科学依据。 稀土是全球关键战略资源。深海沉积物是潜在的巨型稀土资源储库，其稀土元素循环与富集机制是全球 海洋生物地球化学循环研究的核心前沿。论文第一作者、广州海洋地质调查局教授级高级工程师邓义楠 介绍，热液影响区是深海稀土的富集区和稀土循环的关键枢纽，热液羽流中铁锰氧化物颗粒对海水中稀 土具有清除作用。然而，这些被清除的稀土在沉积后如何通过早期成岩过程重新迁移与富集，其通量及 机制尚不清楚，制约了对深海稀土资源潜力的准确评估。 研究发现，在海洋稀土元素"自上而下"清除和"自下而上"释放的双循环模式中，浅海海底沉积物会释放 大量稀土元素返回海水中，而深海远洋沉积物中稀土再生速率远低于大陆边缘，绝大部分稀土得以保留 于沉积物中， ...