The highest HREE concentration documented in apatite from a carbonatite Principal REE minerals at Songwe are synchysite-(Ce) and HREE-bearing apatite This combination of minerals gives a REE distribution profile that fits the current economic requirements for Nd and HREE Multiple apatite generations are present, enabling differentiation between various magmatic and hydrothermal stages The HREE-enriched apatite is hydrothermally formed Rapid crystallisation of apatite from a hydrothermal fluid leads to preferential destabilisation of the HREE