Northeastern Atlantic sedimentary rare earth element (REE) (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu) phase associations among CaCO3, authigenic and lithogenic material are estimated from total sediment REE, Al, Ca, Si, Mn and Co abundances using a linear correlation technique. Phase associations were also determined using a selective chemical leaching technique specific for CaCO3+exchangeable cation, easily reducible oxyhydroxide and residual material. Results suggest that 25–50% of the REE associated with the clay material are exchangeable cations and 20–35% of the total 3+REE and 4% of the total Ce reside in coatings on the CaCO3 tests.