3th WCSET-2014 at Nepal
Civil Engineering / Environmental / Architecture / Planning Session:
Title:
Chemical Mineralogy of Supergene Ores in Banded Iron
Formations from Northern and South-Central Nigeria
Authors:
Sahr Fillie
Abstract:
Geological and chemical data are presented for the
Nigerian iron-formations and their supergene products.
The iron formations consist of oxide and silicate facies
and occur within phyllites and mica schist. Secondary
minerals and phases formed by supergene alteration have
replaced the pre-existing minerals (mainly amphibole,
garnet, magnetite, hematite and Mn-ilmenite) of the iron
formations. Quartz is unaffected. Among the geochemical
characteristics that distinguish the iron formation from
the secondary products is an enrichment of Mn, Fe, K,
Ba, Co, Zn, Ni, V, Sr, Ca, Mg and P and a depletion of
Al, Si and Cr in the alteration products. These
enrichment and depletion of elements together with the
H2O-content are responsible for example the higher
reflectivity of crptomelane than psilomelane, and of
late limonite veins than early limonite pseudomorphs.
Enrichment and depletion of elements are also
responsible for the different lithiophorite, todorokite,
pyrolusite and Mn-Fe hydroxide types. The elements in
the precursor minerals were leached due to dissolution
and sometimes transported under reducing and less acidic
conditions followed by precipitation of the newly formed
minerals under oxidizing and/or alkaline conditions.
Keywords: Iron
formations, supergene products and chemical data
Pages:
329-339