Apatite-rich zones in the Uppermost Upper Zone, Northern Limb, Bushveld Complex: Possible non-conventional source of REE and TiO2

IF 3.4 2区 地球科学 Q1 GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOPHYSICS
Hakundwi Mandende , Themba Mothupi
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The uppermost Upper Zone of the Bushveld Complex is known as a potential host of significant apatite-ilmenite resources. Recent exploration studies have delineated two apatite-rich zones representing a huge potential resource of phosphate. A detailed mineralogical and geochemical study of the two apatite-rich zones is undertaken to demonstrate that in addition to phosphate, apatite and ilmenite could be important saleable by-products for REE and Ti. In the Lower Apatite Zone (LAZ), the average concentrations of apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite are 11%, 6%, and 18%, respectively. Grades of about 30 wt% combined apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite can be recovered from the Upper Apatite Zone (UAZ), of which apatite and granular ilmenite constitute 9 and 10%, respectively. There is an association between diamagnetic (apatite), paramagnetic (mostly silicates and ilmenite), ferromagnetic (titano-magnetite) minerals and, to a lesser extent, sulphides. In addition, the majority of the targeted minerals; apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite are relatively coarse, with a median value ranging between 270 μm and 931 μm. In-situ trace element data obtained on apatite demonstrate an increase in Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) stratigraphically, grading from an average of 3180 ppm Total Rare Earth Elements (TREE+Y) in the LAZ to an average of 4068 ppm TREE+Y in the UAZ, indicating a sub-economic potential of REE that may be economically viable as by-product to phosphate. Preliminary resource estimations show that ~1,405,560 t and ~1,798,056 t of TREE can be exploited from the LAZ and UAZ, respectively. The discrete ilmenite grains are an attractive additional by-product considering their higher average >50% TiO2 and lower concentration of impurities such as <1.06% MgO, <1.21% MnO, <0.08% Al2O3, <0.02% V2O5 and <0.01% Cr2O3. These results suggest that apatite-rich layers in mafic layered intrusions are viable prospects for economic extraction of REE in conjunction with titanium as other by-products that can be recovered from phosphate rocks.

布什维尔德复合体北缘最上层上区的磷灰石富集区:REE 和 TiO2 的可能非常规来源
众所周知,布什维尔德复合体最上层的上区可能蕴藏着大量磷灰石-钛铁矿资源。最近的勘探研究划定了两个富含磷灰石的区域,代表着巨大的潜在磷酸盐资源。我们对这两个磷灰石富集区进行了详细的矿物学和地球化学研究,以证明除了磷酸盐之外,磷灰石和钛铁矿也可能是重要的可销售副产品,其中含有 REE 和 Ti。在下磷灰石区(LAZ),磷灰石、钛铁矿和钛磁铁矿的平均浓度分别为 11%、6% 和 18%。在上磷灰石带(UAZ)中,磷灰石、钛铁矿和钛磁铁矿的综合品位约为 30%,其中磷灰石和粒状钛铁矿分别占 9%和 10%。二磁性(磷灰石)、顺磁性(主要是硅酸盐和钛铁矿)、铁磁性(钛磁铁矿)矿物之间存在关联,硫化物的关联也较小。此外,大部分目标矿物(磷灰石、钛铁矿和钛磁铁矿)相对较粗,中值介于 270 μm 和 931 μm 之间。在磷灰石上获得的原位痕量元素数据显示,轻稀土元素(LREE)在地层上有所增加,从 LAZ 的平均百万分之 3180 的总稀土元素(TREE+Y)到 UAZ 的平均百万分之 4068 的总稀土元素(TREE+Y)。初步资源估算显示,LAZ 和 UAZ 可分别开采约 1,405,560 吨和约 1,798,056 吨 TREE。考虑到离散钛铁矿晶粒具有较高的平均 50% TiO2 含量和较低的杂质浓度(如 1.06% MgO、1.21% MnO、0.08% Al2O3、0.02% V2O5 和 0.01% Cr2O3),因此是一种极具吸引力的额外副产品。这些结果表明,在岩浆岩层状侵入体中富含磷灰石的地层是经济提取 REE 的可行前景,同时还可以从磷酸盐岩中提取钛作为其他副产品。
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来源期刊
Journal of Geochemical Exploration
Journal of Geochemical Exploration 地学-地球化学与地球物理
CiteScore
7.40
自引率
7.70%
发文量
148
审稿时长
8.1 months
期刊介绍: Journal of Geochemical Exploration is mostly dedicated to publication of original studies in exploration and environmental geochemistry and related topics. Contributions considered of prevalent interest for the journal include researches based on the application of innovative methods to: define the genesis and the evolution of mineral deposits including transfer of elements in large-scale mineralized areas. analyze complex systems at the boundaries between bio-geochemistry, metal transport and mineral accumulation. evaluate effects of historical mining activities on the surface environment. trace pollutant sources and define their fate and transport models in the near-surface and surface environments involving solid, fluid and aerial matrices. assess and quantify natural and technogenic radioactivity in the environment. determine geochemical anomalies and set baseline reference values using compositional data analysis, multivariate statistics and geo-spatial analysis. assess the impacts of anthropogenic contamination on ecosystems and human health at local and regional scale to prioritize and classify risks through deterministic and stochastic approaches. Papers dedicated to the presentation of newly developed methods in analytical geochemistry to be applied in the field or in laboratory are also within the topics of interest for the journal.
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