REE-bearing epidote from Sanbagawa pelitic schists, central Shikoku, Japan.

Epidote, which contains significant amounts of rare earth elements and thorium, and allanite occur in the Sanbagawa pelitic schists of central Shikoku at all the metamorphic grades. Petrographical and chemical studies suggest a metamorphic origin of the REE-bearing epidote and a detrital origin of the allanite. The detrital allanite is the major source of REE and Th in the metamorphic epidote.