Ore and Energy Resource Geology最新文献

{"title":"Electrokinetic removal of Cd, Ti, Pb, and Sb from abandoned and active artisanal gold tailings from Amansie West District of Ghana","authors":"Timothy Amangdam Anemana ,&nbsp;Ernest Pankah ,&nbsp;Mohammed Moro Buri","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the effectiveness of electrokinetic removal of heavy metals, such as Cd, Ti, Sb, and Pb from abandoned and active tailing soils among different soil fractions/phases. owing to the nature of the soil components in tailings, traditional methods may encounter various challenges that are ineffective. The aim of the study is to understand and address the distribution of heavy metals among tailing soil fractions (exchangeable, carbon, iron manganese oxide, organic/sulfide, and residual bound fractions) via electrokinetic remediation. The research was conducted in a 1215 cm³ electrochemical cell containing gold tailings via a continuous constant current of 1 A for five days. A platinum electrode served as the anode, and a titanium plate acted as the cathode. After five days, the remediation efficiency was assessed via aqua regia and sequential extraction methods. The findings showed lower metal removal efficiencies of the abandoned tailings (&lt;5 %) than those of active tailing soil. This phenomenon could be attributed to the surface charge of the soil particles and the diffusion of metals into soil minerals resulting in the stabilization and occlusion of the the heavy metals into the nonavailable phases of the soil (organic/sulfide and residual bound fractions). In the speciation studies, Pb species were enriched mainly in the residual fraction. Antimony was also enriched in the residual, organic/sulfide bound, and Fe/Mn fractions. The Cd was associated with organic/sulfide and residual fractions, whereas Ti was enriched mainly in organic/sulphide fractions. The concentration of heavy metals in the active and abandoned tailing soils were comparable. The study concluded that electrokinetic remediation has the potential to remove harmful elements from abandoned and active tailings whiles providing insightful information on the physicochemical phenomena governing these processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimising gold exploration in Northeast Sudan using analytical hierarchy process with multidisciplinary geodata","authors":"Abu Nasser Hussain,&nbsp;Biswajit Thander,&nbsp;Siddhartha Kumar Lahiri","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Orogenic gold deposits, responsible for about one-third of the world’s gold production, typically form in tectonically active zones, where shear zones, suture zones, and faults serve as pathways for hydrothermal fluids, promoting gold mineralisation. Sudan’s diverse geology, characterised by Pan-African terrains within the Arabian-Nubian Shield, is a globally significant gold province with a rich history of ancient and modern mining activities. Despite having a rich legacy of gold exploration, there is an absence of an optimised strategy that helps reduce the cost of exploration. This research aims to seek <em>how a geoscientific decision-making tool, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), optimises orogenic gold exploration by systematically weighing key geological and geophysical parameters in regions with complex tectonic histories</em>. By evaluating four key parameters, lineament density, mineral composite map, lithological classification and free air gravity anomalies, available through open-access geospatial data sources, and introducing an empirical Relative Gold Mineralised Index (RGMI), this study applies AHP to assign weights to these variables, reflecting their influence on gold mineralisation. This structured approach identifies high-potential gold zones in northeast Sudan and proposes a scalable methodology for strategic orogenic gold exploration in similar geological settings worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking mineralogical, geochemical, and textural controls to petrophysical signatures in the Kiruna Mining District, Sweden","authors":"Ervin Veress ,&nbsp;Oskar Rydman ,&nbsp;Rayhan A. Farrenzo ,&nbsp;Joel B.H. Andersson ,&nbsp;Mathis Warlo ,&nbsp;Irvine R. Annesley ,&nbsp;Tobias E. Bauer","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Discoveries of deposits at shallow depths are becoming scarce, leading exploration efforts to increasingly focus on deeper targets. Traditional exploration techniques for subsurface mapping are often ineffective in terrains obscured by vegetation and glacial sediments, prompting the development of new methods, particularly those centered on geophysics. While geophysical surveys can be valuable for peering beneath the surface cover, reducing initial exploration costs, they are often insufficient to resolve the three-dimensional architecture in structurally complex settings. Integrating geological and geophysical studies ensures that geological characteristics of rock units and structural frameworks are considered, leading to geologically validated results. Merging geological and geophysical models demands a strong understanding of how physical properties are distributed and influenced by geological factors. Our study aims to enhance the understanding of geological factors controlling petrophysical properties in the Kiruna Mining District (Sweden). We conducted an integrated analysis of geochemistry, mineralogy, texture, and petrophysical properties from 35 outcrop locations, including 105 density, magnetic susceptibility, and P-wave velocity measurements from the Kiruna area. The results reveal not only distinct contrasts between lithological units but also significant intraformational variability driven by alteration and fabric, which can obscure lithological boundaries in geophysical surveys. Structural processes such as crustal shortening and basin inversion were found to impose a strong control on the petrophysical properties, contributing to complex and diagnostic signatures. The geological-petrophysical framework presented in this study serves as a foundation for integrated studies in northern Sweden, enabling geophysical methods to serve as a tool for understanding mineral system components and test conceptual models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mineralogy and geochemistry of nephrite from Drosh area, district Chitral, northern Pakistan","authors":"Aamir Khan ,&nbsp;Mohammad Tahir Shah ,&nbsp;Liaqat Ali ,&nbsp;Shah Fahad Alam ,&nbsp;Ihtisham Islam ,&nbsp;Salman Ahmed Khattak","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the quality of nephrite by investigating its gemological, mineralogical and geochemical properties. Petrographic analysis revealed that the nephrite is primarily composed of tremolite, with minor amounts of actinolite, while the host rock, serpentinite, is predominantly composed of chrysotile and antigorite, with traces of tremolite, diopside, zoisite, talc, and plagioclase. Geochemically, the major oxides such as SiO₂, MgO, CaO and Fe₂O₃ are ranging from 54.69 to 59.1 wt. %, 20.18 to 21.89 wt. %, 10.24 to 13.98 wt. % and 2.09 to 3.01 wt. %, respectively. The trace elements, including cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) are ranging from 6 to 31 ppm, 401 to 1005 ppm and 789 to 987 ppm, respectively. The Fe²⁺/(Mg²⁺ + Fe²⁺) ratios for the bulk rock range from 0.10 to 0.14. Gemologically, the nephrite exhibits a color range from light-green to green, a refractive index from 1.61 to 1.62, specific gravity from 2.97 to 3.04, a hardness from 5.8 to 6.2, and Schmidt hammer values from 38.00 to 39.60 MPa. These properties are consistent with typical nephrite characteristics. The intensity of light to dark green color is controlled by variations in the contents of Fe, Cr and Ni. Additionally, the Fe²⁺/(Mg²⁺ + Fe²⁺) ratio, along with high contents of Ni and Cr, and field observations suggest that the nephrite is of serpentinite-related origin, having undergone hydrothermal metasomatic transformation through elemental exchange between the silica-rich intrusions and host ultramafic rocks. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights into the geological processes of nephrite formation, which may aid in the exploration and research of nephrite deposits in other regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical characteristics of surface samples in the Mkuju River uranium project, southern Tanzania: implications for uranium geochemical exploration and provenance studies","authors":"Athanas S. Macheyeki ,&nbsp;Dalaly P. Kafumu","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Uranium occurrences in Tanzania are mainly associated with Karoo Formations, including the Namtumbo-Mkuju River and Madaba deposits. Additional occurrences are found in Quaternary-Holocene playa lake deposits in the Manyoni and Bahi areas (Central Tanzania), Galapo and Minjingu (Arusha region) and within magmatic and carbonatite systems at Chimala and Pandahill (Southwestern Tanzania). This study focuses on the Mkuju River uranium deposits in southern Tanzania to characterize elemental distributions, identify geochemical trends and determine uranium provenance. A total of 64 auger samples were collected from depths of 0–3 m at 1 km × 1 km grid intervals. Samples were analyzed using ICP-AES and ICP-MS following aqua regia digestion at SGS Laboratories (South Africa), with duplicates analyzed via XRF at the Geological Survey of Tanzania. Correlation coefficients (R) between uranium and other elements range from -0.07 (Ti) to 0.79 (Zn). Stronger correlations (<em>R</em> &gt; 0.47) were observed between uranium and lithophile elements, or those with mixed lithophile-siderophile or chalcophile-siderophile behavior, indicating multiple uranium sources. Element thresholds varied with depth. Uranium, Sn and Sb showed increasing thresholds, whereas Hf, P, Ca, Zr, Co, Al, Ti, Rb, Sr, Na, Tl, Th, Mn and Cr decreased. Uranium concentrations exceeding 4.65 ppm are considered anomalous. Downhole threshold variability was element-specific. For example, W showed 0 % variability, Mo (siderophile / chalcophile) 12 %, and Cu, Ga, Sn (chalcophile / lithophile) ranged from 10 to 29 %. HFSE lithophiles like Hf and Ta varied by 12–25 %, while chalcophiles such as Zn, Pb, In, As, Tb, Bi, Ag and Cd ranged from 4 to 26 %. Siderophile / chalcophile elements like Co, Fe, Sb and Ni exhibited 6–29 % variability. Lithophiles (e.g., U, V, K, Al, Ce, Mg) varied by 5–40 %. Mn, a siderophile, had the highest variability at 43 %. Geochemical data suggest uranium anomalies in the Namtumbo area originate mainly from greywackes, arkosic sandstones, black shales and partially from weathered igneous granites. This implies a multi-source origin involving sedimentary input, hydrothermal diagenesis and hydrothermal magmatic-volcanic activity. Therefore, uranium in this basin likely formed through (1) syn-sedimentary processes, (2) diagenetic alteration, and (3) magmatic-hydrothermal systems. However, the absence of Eh and pH data limits insight into element mobility. These findings provide new insights into downhole element threshold variability and uranium provenance, offering valuable guidance for exploration geoscientists. The approach may be applied to similar geological contexts for improved sampling strategies and anomaly detection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144270841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantitative mineralogical characterization of the Upper Apatite-Rich Zone of the Bushveld Complex using QEMSCAN®: Implications for mineral processing of apatite, ilmenite, and titanomagnetite ore minerals","authors":"Hakundwi Mandende ,&nbsp;Themba Mothupi","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100120","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Magmatic apatite-oxide ore deposits within layered intrusions often contain significant resources of metals critical for the green energy transition, battery storage technologies, and food security such as titanium, iron, vanadium, phosphate, and rare earth elements. The Upper Zone (UZ) of the Bushveld Complex is known to contain significant resources of apatite-ilmenite mineralization. Despite the enormous economic potential, detailed mineralogical evaluation of the apatite-rich layers is still lacking. This study aims to use automated mineralogy (QEMSCAN®) to evaluate the key process mineralogy parameters essential for designing an effective beneficiation process for the Upper Apatite-rich Zone (UAZ) in the UZ, Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A detailed mineralogical study was undertaken on a 3 m composite sample of half drill cores from the Bellevue drill core with head grades of 3 wt.% P₂O₅, 37 wt.% Fe₂O₃, 6 wt.% TiO₂, and 32 wt.% SiO₂. Mineralogical analysis revealed the sample's major components as plagioclase (∼22%), orthopyroxene (∼22%), olivine (∼9%), ilmenite (∼9%), titanomagnetite (∼9%), mica (∼8%), and apatite (∼7%). Apatite showed excellent liberation characteristics, particularly in the finer fractions: in the -212/+45 µm and -45 µm size fractions, over 90% of apatite particles were liberated or free. The remaining locked apatite particles were primarily associated with orthopyroxene, mica, plagioclase, titanomagnetite, and amphibole. Similarly, ilmenite and titanomagnetite were well-liberated in finer fractions, with 77–90% of these minerals being free or exposed. Ilmenite and titanomagnetite consistently showed high degrees of association across all size fractions. The P50 and P80 values for apatite, ilmenite, and titanomagnetite suggest that excessive grinding beyond 45 µm does not significantly improve liberation and may lead to sliming, negatively impacting recovery. Thus, optimal grinding is proposed between 45 and 212 µm to maximize liberation without risking processing efficiency.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Based on the mineralogical findings, a combination of magnetic separation and froth flotation is recommended for beneficiation. Magnetic separation is ideal for recovering Fe-Ti oxides (ilmenite and magnetite), while froth flotation is suitable for apatite recovery. Gravity separation may be less effective due to potential contamination. Minerals like fayalite (olivine) and orthopyroxene have similar specific gravities to ilmenite and magnetite, risking dilution of the ilmenite and magnetite concentrates. Similarly, iron-rich biotite and hornblende share specific gravities with apatite, possibly contaminating the apatite concentrate with Fe, Si, Ca, Al, Mg, Ti, and K. Such impurities could complicate downstream processing, particularly for phosphate fertilizer or phosphoric acid production. Therefore, a process that involves comminution to less than 212 μm, followed by magnetic separation to recover Fe-Ti oxides","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145519210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical characteristics of stream sediments as a preliminary tool for exploration in the Mbengwi area, Northwestern Cameroon","authors":"Ralain Bryan Ngatcha ,&nbsp;Ngambu Aloysius Afahnwie ,&nbsp;Mary Ewokolo Molua Etutu ,&nbsp;Fuofu Hanson Fombalang ,&nbsp;Oliver Anoh Njoh","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Mbengwi area is located along the Cenozoic volcano-plutonic Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) within the Northern Domain of the Pan-African Neoproterozoic Fold Belt of Cameroon. Important magnetite filings are continuously recovered in the area along drainage trails. The source of this concealed mineralization has not been established. A total of ten active stream sediment samples were recovered and analyzed for major and trace elements by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. The mineralogical population (phases) of the heavy mineral concentrates consists of zircon, rutile, quartz, and opaque mineral phases, with angular to sub-rounded morphologies indicating moderate to long transport distances. Sediment geochemistry shows high contents in Fe₂O₃ up to 37.43 wt.%, with low contents in Al₂O₃, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O. The concentrations of siderophiles (e.g., Fe, Bi, Co, Cr, Ga, Mn, Mo, and Ni) and chalcophiles (e.g., In, Sn, and Hg) are slightly elevated with respect to their average upper continental crust values. The spatial distribution of iron and other elements is presented as point symbol maps, and the data is analyzed using multivariate statistics. From the principal component analysis (PCA), the Ag-Hg-Tl-Mo-As-Sb-Cd-Se-Pb-Au-In-Nb, as well as the Zn-Co-Ga-Mn-Ni-In-Fe-Cu factors, point to the presence of a hydrothermal fluid circulation in the area associated with possible Au-Ag-Mo and Fe-Cu mineralization. Ag, Hg, Mo, and As could serve as a pathfinder for Au in the area. The single element factor with Sn reflects the occurrence of cassiterite host rocks in the area. The sediments from the Mbengwi area were deposited under humid tropical and equatorial climates. The geochemical parameters (CIA, CIW, and PIA) point to a strong weathering of feldspar-bearing source rocks. The dominant mafic to intermediate igneous provenance suggests that mica schists, granodiorites, monzogranites, monzonites, and basanites could be potential source rocks in the area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143931521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Petrographic characterization of organic matter and solid bitumen from the Pimenteiras Formation (Devonian), Parnaíba Basin (Brazil), potential for hydrocarbon generation","authors":"Agostinho Mussa,&nbsp;Wolfgang Kalkreuth,&nbsp;Ana Maria Pimentel Mizusaki,&nbsp;Marleny Blanco González,&nbsp;Tais Freitas da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Paleozoic-Mesozoic Parnaiba Basin is an intraplate volcano-sedimentary basin which the Pimenteiras Formation (Devonian) has the higher potential for hydrocarbon generation, mainly gas and condensate. The present study aims to make a petrographic characterization of organic matter and solid bitumen from the Pimenteiras Formation (Devonian), Parnaíba Basin (Brazil), potential for hydrocarbon generation. The study observed the presence of solid bitumen, formed as a result of the cracking of terrestrial organic matter (gas-prone) and marine organic matter (oil-prone) during diagenesis and catagenesis. These solid bitumens were classified according to the reflectance values such as glance pitch, grahamite and epi-impsonite. The solid bitumens were observed in all analyzed wells with a significance variation in terms of thermal maturity from top to bottom of the Pimenteiras sequence. High reflectance values (epi-impsonite) were observed in samples located at the bottom of the sequence in relation to the top samples, mainly in the BP-77 well. On the other hand, significance variations in terms of vitrinite reflectance values were not observed in samples close to igneous intrusions. Greater presence of macerals such as vitrinite and inertinite was identified, and rarely were observed liptinites. Large particles of solid bitumens were observed, being mostly biostructured and characterized by a homogeneous gray surface, mostly well preserved and isotropic. Similar biostructuring was also observed in palynofacies data, through the phytocasts. The solid bitumen reflectance ranges from 0.46 to 1.16 %R_o in the BP-77 well samples, with vitrinite reflectance equivalent (VRE_o) ranging from 0.68 to 1.12 %R_o, from 0.33 to 0.50 %R_o (with VRE_o varying from 0.60 to 0.71 %R_o) in the BP-59 well samples, and between 0.36 and 0.7 %R_o with VRE_o varying between 0.62 and 0.84 %R_o in the BP-22 well samples, respectively. These data suggest that the organic matter ranges from early to late mature in terms of thermal maturity. On the other hand, the solid bitumen versus vitrinite reflectance, and solid bitumen versus T_max suggest that the OM (organic matter) varies from immature to early mature. The presence of solid bitumens suggests a thermal maturity of the organic matter and potential for hydrocarbon generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144907416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical characteristics of Upper Cretaceous asphaltenes from bitumen seeps in the Kurdistan region, northern Iraq: Insights from trace metals and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy","authors":"Edris Muhammed Pirot ,&nbsp;Ayad Nuri Faqi Edilbi ,&nbsp;Mahdi Mohammed Pirot Mamash ,&nbsp;Bzhar Abdulmanaf Delizy ,&nbsp;Sardar Mhyadin Balaky ,&nbsp;Nabaz Abdulmajed Muhammad Salih ,&nbsp;Hossein Khojasteh","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and trace metal analysis were conducted on the set of 20 solid bitumen samples obtained from two geological formations; upper Campanian – lower Maastrichtian Bekhme Formation and Maastrichtian Aqra Formation. This study analyzes the infrared (IR) spectra of extracted asphaltene samples of both studied formations from two regions in northern Iraq (Bekhme region and Sare Sada region), focusing on key functional groups and molecular vibrations. The spectra reveal consistent peaks for alcohols (O<img>H stretching), alkyl groups (CH₂ and CH₃ bending), and unsaturated bonds (alkenes and alkynes) across all studied samples. Additional peaks indicate the presence of C<img>O stretching (suggesting alcohols and ethers) and metal-carbon stretching, pointing to metal coordination. The analysis highlights the complex structure of asphaltenes, which combine aliphatic chains, aromatic components, and trace metals. Peak intensities reflect slight similarities in composition. The stretching phenomenon can be attributed to the stretching vibration of hydroxyl groups. Comparing the aromatic, aliphatic, and long chains, together with the nickle to vanadium ratio, indicates that the examined samples originated from the same source of organic matter. Furthermore, it is highly probable that all samples from both studied regions originated from a mixed marine-terrestrial-oxic-dysoxic carbonate environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive review of advanced polymer gel technologies in enhanced oil recovery and water production control","authors":"Amir Javad Borhani,&nbsp;Fatemeh Ghazi,&nbsp;Ali Akbari,&nbsp;Ali Ranjbar,&nbsp;Yousef Kazemzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oreoa.2025.100109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excessive water production is a major challenge in the petroleum industry, significantly reducing oil recovery efficiency and increasing operational costs by approximately $50 billion annually. Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, such as thermal and non-thermal techniques, aim to improve oil production by altering reservoir and fluid properties. Thermal methods, including steam injection and electromagnetic heating (EMH), have shown oil production increases ranging from 11 % to 500 %, despite high initial costs and operational complexities. Non-thermal methods, such as polymer, surfactant, and alkaline injections, target light to medium viscosity oils, achieving oil recovery improvements between 5 % to 45 %. Chemical methods, particularly polymer gels, have gained prominence for their efficacy in controlling excessive water production and enhancing oil recovery. Polyacrylamide gels, known for their profile control capabilities, can increase oil recovery by 10–30 %. Recent advancements in microgels and nanogels offer better stability and compatibility with harsh reservoir conditions, such as high salinity and temperatures, resulting in recovery improvements up to 35 %. Field studies demonstrate the USA and Canada leading in EOR adoption, with polymer injection projects constituting over 80 % of chemical EOR applications. To further advance oil recovery and address excessive water production, continued research into optimizing polymer gel formulations and exploring new chemical EOR methods is essential. Tailoring EOR techniques to specific reservoir conditions, including temperature, salinity, and rock permeability, will enhance their effectiveness. The integration of nanoparticles into polymer gels shows promise for improving structural strength and performance, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in the petroleum industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100993,"journal":{"name":"Ore and Energy Resource Geology","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}