There was distinct elemental fractionation in all three fern species. Each species showed enrichment in the LREEs (light rare earth elements), especially A. filix-femina. D. filix-mas showed the most enrichment in HREEs (heavy rare earth elements); Pteridium aquilinum had lower levels of REEs than the other two species.
The best contrast was observed in D. filix-mas samples from areas over mineralization compared to samples taken over barren V?xj? granites, which suggests that D. filix-mas is the preferred biogeochemical sample medium for REE exploration in this environment.