Xiaolin Ou, Zhibiao Chen, Xiuling Chen, Xiaofei Li, Jian Wang, Tianjing Ren, Haibin Chen, Liujun Feng, Yikai Wang, Zhiqiang Chen, Meixia Liang, Pengchang Gao.Finally, implications for the REEs as an economic deposit and their beneficiation are discussed. Unfortunately, the provenance of the Georgia kaolins could not be determined based solely on the trace-element and REE compositions because fractionations during saprolization and diagenesis mask much of the inherent provenance signatures. Degrees of REE fractionation are driven primarily by differences in sedimentary kaolin physical properties and the presence of organic acids in groundwater. Cretaceous kaolins display more light REE mobility compared with Tertiary kaolins, which show very little REE fractionation. Light REEs within sedimentary kaolins are associated with phosphate mineralogy and have experienced variable degrees of diagenetic fractionation and mobilization. Saprolitic materials show an enrichment in the light and heavy REEs, compared with the parent material, with enhanced Ce/Eu anomalies. Rare-earth element and bulk chemical compositions were determined using discrete chemical analyses and chemical imaging. Rare-earth element geochemistry signatures are particularly useful for tracking element sources and mobility and are, therefore, powerful tools in the investigation of clay mineral formation and diagenesis. This study investigates how saprolization influences inherent rare-earth element (REE) source rock signatures and how depositional environment(s) and diagenetic reactions ultimately impact the REE signature within sedimentary kaolin bodies.