[Geochemical Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Rare Earth Elements in the Dustfall of Quanzhou City].

Rare earth elements (REE) have certain properties as tracing elements which result in their special geochemical characteristics. In order to study the geochemical characteristics of REE in the dustfall and their sources, 34 dustfall samples were collected in five functional areas and potential source areas of Quanzhou City, then REE compositions, distribution patterns and characteristic parameters were analyzed together with ternary diagrams and characteristic parameter diagrams, for investigating the main provenance. The results showed that ∑REE in the dustfall presented significant spatial difference with the sequence of industrial area>heavy traffic area > commercial area > residential area > agricultural area. The lower coefficient variation of ∑REE in residential, heavy traffic, commercial areas indicated homogeneous sources of REE. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns were all of the rightward inclined type with the enrichment of LREE relative to HREE and showed obvious negative Eu anomalies which indicated that the dustfall in study area had obvious terrigenous property. Some REE characteristic parameters in each functional area were close to the average in potential source areas, failed to reveal the causes for spatial differences. The results of LaCeV diagram demonstrated that REE in the dustfall of residential area, heavy traffic area and commercial area were mainly derived from traffic source and soil dust, followed by coal combustion, δEu vs. ∑REEs diagram and HREE/MREE vs. La diagram further explained that vehicle emission was the main anthropogenic source of REE in the dustfall of heavy traffic area and commercial area. The REE in the dustfall of Quanzhou City was less affected by steelworks emissions and cement plant dust and there were additional REE sources in the dustfall of industrial and agricultural area different from other functional areas.