It is traditionally known that the ionadsorption type REE deposits in South China can be divided into two mineralization types: HREEtype represented by the “Zudong pattern” and LREEtype represented by the “Heling pattern” (or “Huashan pattern”). However, in the orehosting weathering crust of many deposits discovered in recent years (such as Qingxi, Zhaibei and Mantoushan), the coexistence of HREE and LREE ore has appeared, within a special “upper LREE and lower HREE” structure. This indicates that in addition to the HREEtype and LREEtype, there is also a transitional type that could be defined as the HREE+LREEtype. Based on a comparative study of a large number of typical deposits from three different mineralization types, this study revealed that the diversity of mineralization types is closely related to the variation of oreforming parent rocks. In particular, REE geochemistry and REEbearing minerals of parent rocks are the key factors that regulate the variation of mineralization types. Statistics show that, from HREEtype→LREE+HREEtype→LREEtype, the total amount of REE in the parent rocks has changed little (∑REY: 200×10-6~450×10-6→200×10-6~500×10-6→200×10-6~800×10-6), but the partition value of LREE and HREY appear considerably different within the interval range (∑LREE/∑HREY: 02~1→1~5→2~10). Meanwhile, with the above sequence of oreforming parent rocks, the type and quantity of REE accessory minerals that can provide main source for ionexchangeable REY and of HREY partition property are obviously reduced. It is consistent with the decreasing trend of HREY ratio in the bulk REE geochemistry. The results indicate that the traditional view of “the HREE distributedpattern parent rocks form HREE deposits and the LREE distributedpattern rocks form LREE deposits” needs to be extended. That is, for some parent rocks with low degree (1＜∑LREE/∑HREY＜5) LREE distribution pattern and rich weatherable REE accessory minerals, there is potential to form a LREE+HREEtype deposit. The results are of indicative significance for future exploration of ionadsorption type REE deposits in southern China.