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Minerals
Special Issues
Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits
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Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 8206

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ali Abedini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia 57561-51818, Iran
Interests: bauxite–laterite deposits; kaolin and bentonite deposits; REE geochemistry
Dr. Maryam Khosravi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mining Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
Interests: bauxite–laterite deposits; porphyry copper deposits; geochemistry; fluid inclusion; petrology; mineralogy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bauxite deposits, which are residual weathering products generated through the weathering of a variety of metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary aluminosilicate-rich parent rocks under humid tropical to subtropical climates, have been the subject of study for many decades. In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in the geochemical features of bauxite deposits developed on carbonate and aluminosilicate bedrocks. Despite several decades of research, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the geochemical features of bauxites formed on palaeokarsts, especially the mechanism of the enrichment and distribution of critical elements. In addition to the Al concentration, palaeokarstic bauxite deposits host several trace elements, such as Ti, Ni, Co, V, Cr, Li, Ga, Ta, Sc, Nb, Zr, U, and REE. The enrichment mechanisms of the critical elements, the distribution and fractionation patterns of these elements, and the determination of the provenance of bauxite ores are some of the most difficult challenges faced with palaeokarstic bauxite deposits. Perspectives on the study of the distribution, fractionation, and enrichment of elements in palaeokarstic bauxite deposits are to introduce novel potential mineral resources with economic concentrations of critical elements in the future for the world and also to present novel geochemical indices for the identification of the parental affinity of bauxite ores. Lastly, we invite articles covering the latest achievements from all geochemists and economic geologists worldwide, focusing on mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of palaeokarstic bauxite deposits from different parts of the world in this Special Issue.

We both kindly encourage you to join us. Let us make this Special Issue a highly referenced one!

Prof. Dr. Ali Abedini
Dr. Maryam Khosravi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Mediterranean-type bauxite deposits
  • palaeokarstic bauxite deposits
  • geochemistry
  • parental affinity
  • ore genesis
  • critical elements

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 6121 KiB  
Article
Effect of Karst Geomorphology on the Sedimentary Mineralization and Geochemical Distribution of Bauxite: An Example from the Xiaoyuan Area in Qingzhen, Guizhou Province
by Hongcheng Mo, Ruidong Yang, Chaokun Luo, Xinzheng Li, Yanbing Ji, Guiyuan Yang, Xumei Zhou, Chuanqian Gao, Xu Hu and Zhimeng Zeng
Minerals 2023, 13(8), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081013 - 29 Jul 2023
Viewed by 923
Abstract
Bauxite, in central Guizhou, is predominantly karst bauxite, but there is insufficient research on the effect of karst paleogeomorphology on bauxite development. Xiaoyuan bauxite is also a karst bauxite, and high- and low-iron bauxite deposits exist in the study area. This study conducts [...] Read more.
Bauxite, in central Guizhou, is predominantly karst bauxite, but there is insufficient research on the effect of karst paleogeomorphology on bauxite development. Xiaoyuan bauxite is also a karst bauxite, and high- and low-iron bauxite deposits exist in the study area. This study conducts geological modeling of karst bauxite using controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) data and drill core data. The effects of karst paleogeomorphology on bauxite deposition and mineralization are evaluated by assessing karst paleogeomorphology, conducting a mineralogical analysis of drill cores at different locations, and determining the geochemical distribution characteristics of the elements in the horizontal and vertical directions. Combined with previous research results, we propose two metallogenic processes of high-iron and low-iron bauxite. The findings are significant for understanding the mechanism of bauxite formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits)
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17 pages, 7754 KiB  
Article
REE Geochemical Characteristics of the Huri Karst-Type Bauxite Deposit, Irano–Himalayan Belt, Northwestern Iran
by Ali Abedini and Maryam Khosravi
Minerals 2023, 13(7), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13070926 - 10 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1116
Abstract
The Huri bauxite deposit is located 40 km northwest of Maragheh City, East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Bauxite horizons at Huri develop within karstic depressions and sinkholes of carbonate footwalls of the Ruteh Formation, overlain by carbonate of the Elika Formation. Powder X-ray [...] Read more.
The Huri bauxite deposit is located 40 km northwest of Maragheh City, East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Bauxite horizons at Huri develop within karstic depressions and sinkholes of carbonate footwalls of the Ruteh Formation, overlain by carbonate of the Elika Formation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscope, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses show that the Huri bauxite ores consist of hematite, diaspore, kaolinite, and lesser amounts of halloysite, pyrophyllite, illite, goethite, clinochlore, amesite, rutile, zircon, and monazite. Based on geochemical studies (Eu/Eu* vs. Sm/Nd and U/Th bivariate diagrams), basalt rocks interbedded in limestone of the Ruteh Formation are the possible precursor rocks of the Huri bauxite deposit. The pH variations of weathering solutions, fluctuations in the groundwater table level, the function of carbonate bedrock as a geochemical barrier, simultaneous precipitation of Fe-bearing minerals, and preferential scavenging of light rare earth elements (LREE) by hematite played an important role in the fractionation of LREE from heavy rare earth elements (HREE) in the Huri bauxite ores. Fluctuations in groundwater table level, increasing pH of acidic solutions percolating downward, preferential adsorption of Ce onto hematite at the base of the profile, and the possible presence of Ce-bearing fluorocarbonates played an important role in increasing Ce anomaly from the top of the profile downward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits)
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15 pages, 9422 KiB  
Article
Geochemistry and Geometrical Features of the Upper Cretaceous Vitulano Para-Autochthonous Karst Bauxites (Campania Region, Southern Italy): Constraints on Genesis and Deposition
by Roberto Buccione, Stefano Vitale, Sabatino Ciarcia and Giovanni Mongelli
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030386 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1633
Abstract
In the Vitulano area, Upper Cretaceous bauxite bodies fill small depressions and karst cavities within Cretaceous shallow-water limestones. These bauxites were studied to understand the processes that led to their formation. Geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic analyses were carried out on the bauxite samples, [...] Read more.
In the Vitulano area, Upper Cretaceous bauxite bodies fill small depressions and karst cavities within Cretaceous shallow-water limestones. These bauxites were studied to understand the processes that led to their formation. Geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic analyses were carried out on the bauxite samples, together with image analysis providing geometric parameters. The texture of Vitulano bauxite consists of ooids and sub-circular aggregates dispersed in a predominantly Ca-rich matrix. Ooids are generally formed by a single large core, often surrounded by an alternation of different aggregates of boehmite and Al-hematite reflecting different climate periods. The composition is dominated by the major elements Al2O3 and CaO with lower concentrations of Fe2O3 and SiO2. Boehmite, calcite, hematite, and anatase are the main mineralogical phases identified. Image analysis provided values of fractal dimension D that gives information on carbonate platform exposure times since it is linked to long-lasting sub-aerial events and diffusion-limited cluster aggregation processes. The tectonic evolution of the area played an important role in the genesis of the Vitulano bauxites since it favored the erosion, transport, and re-deposition of pre-existing bauxite material from the surrounding Campania bauxites. Based on this hypothesis, Vitulano bauxites are defined and classified as para-autochthonous, and this was supported by Eu/Eu* vs. Sm/Nd and Eu/Eu* vs. TiO2 Al2O3 indices displaying a similarity between Vitulano and the other Campania bauxites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits)
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18 pages, 6068 KiB  
Article
Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on the Occurrence Forms of REEs in Carboniferous Karst Bauxite, Central Guizhou Province, Southwest China: A Case Study of Lindai Bauxite
by Chaokun Luo, Peng Liang, Ruidong Yang, Junbo Gao, Qun Chen and Hongcheng Mo
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030320 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1970
Abstract
Karst bauxite is a major source of aluminum and contains high concentrations of trace elements such as Li, Ga, Sc, and rare earth elements (REEs). It is regarded as a potential non-conventional REE source due to the increasing demand for REEs. This study [...] Read more.
Karst bauxite is a major source of aluminum and contains high concentrations of trace elements such as Li, Ga, Sc, and rare earth elements (REEs). It is regarded as a potential non-conventional REE source due to the increasing demand for REEs. This study provides new mineralogical and geochemical evidence of a Lindai bauxite deposit in central Guizhou Province, aiming to analyze the genesis of REE minerals and reveal the forms of REEs occurring in these deposits. The results indicate that a large number of detrital and authigenic rare-earth phosphate minerals, including monazite and xenotime, were identified. In terms of their genesis, the authigenic monazite was mainly precipitated under alkaline and reducing conditions, whereas the authigenic xenotime was formed in acidic and reducing conditions. The mineralogical evidence detected by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and a TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) suggests that the REEs in the Lindai bauxite exhibit multiple forms, including rare-earth phosphate minerals (monazite and xenotime) and REE scavenging by hematite and anatase phases. Among them, the anatase controls some LREE (such as La, Ce, and Pr) distributions in addition to monazite, whereas the hematite also controls relatively large amounts of Sm, Eu, and HREE (such as Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Lu) distributions. According to the calculation of the percentage of REE-bearing mineral phases obtained by a TIMA analysis, REE scavenging by hematite accounted for 93.28% of all forms of REEs, REE scavenging by anatase accounted for 5.88%, monazite accounted for 0.67%, and xenotime accounted for 0.17%. This study provides new evidence of the forms of REEs occurring in Carboniferous karst bauxite in central Guizhou Province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits)
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Review

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13 pages, 2998 KiB  
Review
Abundance and Genetic Significance of Lithium in Karst-Type Bauxite Deposits: A Comparative Review
by Maria Economou-Eliopoulos and Christos Kanellopoulos
Minerals 2023, 13(7), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13070962 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1700
Abstract
Palaeo weathering during the Cretaceous–Eocene interval is most favorable for bauxitization, i.e., transport and deposition in traps on the karstified surfaces of the Mediterranean karst bauxite belt, including the Parnassos–Ghiona bauxite deposit. Resources of lithium (Li), a critical metal of strategic significance in [...] Read more.
Palaeo weathering during the Cretaceous–Eocene interval is most favorable for bauxitization, i.e., transport and deposition in traps on the karstified surfaces of the Mediterranean karst bauxite belt, including the Parnassos–Ghiona bauxite deposit. Resources of lithium (Li), a critical metal of strategic significance in karst-type bauxite deposits, have attracted significant attention in recent years. Due to the discovery of the Li enrichment in certain karstic bauxite deposits in Europe and particularly in China, this review study is focused on the unexplored Li content in the Parnassos–Ghiona (Greece) bauxite deposit, aiming to improve the understanding of the major controlling factors for their origin and enrichment of critical metals. The presence of thin (up to 50 cm) pyrite-bearing coal seams and carbonaceous facies on top of the Parnassos–Ghiona bauxite deposit, at the transition between B3 (the youngest) bauxite horizon and the occurrence of multicolor bauxite ores reflecting a multistage evolution and changes in the mineralogy and geochemistry, is a common feature with other bauxite deposits in Europe and elsewhere. The organic matter, such as microorganisms in coal layers and carbonaceous layers (derived from plants and algae growing in paleo-mires after a regression of the sea), contains Li, which is derived from seawater, as suggested by a positive correlation with B (a seawater component as well). The available geological, mineralogical, and geochemical data highlight the particular significance of coal layers and carbonaceous layers overlying bauxite bodies as a driving force for redox reactions and as a source of Li in the exploration of karst-type bauxite deposits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Palaeokarstic Bauxite Deposits)
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