Mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of the Qarkhotlou bauxite deposit, southwest of Zanjan

Authors

1 Department of Geology, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zanjan

3 Department of Geology, University of Zanjan

Abstract

The Qarkhotlou bauxite deposit occurs as a semi-continuous horizon situated along the parallel unconformity surfaces between Ruteh and Shemshak Formations. Based on color, facies and textural features, three distinct bauxitic facies are distinguished in the Qarkhotlou deposit, which is, from bottom to top include: (1) lower red-brown pisolitic bauxite, (2) middle red bauxite and (3) upper brick-yellow bauxite. Hematite, goethite, boehmite, diaspore, kaolinite, and pyrophillite are the major mineral components in the Qarkhotlou bauxite ores; muscovite-illite, anatase, rutile, and chlorite are minor minerals. Petrographic observations indicate that panidiomorphic, microgranular, pelitomorphic, pisolitic, and oolitic are the main texture-forming components in the Qarkhotlou ores. These ore textures suggest that the bauxite material has an authigenic origin. However, the existence of clastic assemblages in the pelitomorphic matrix, as well as flow and breccia textures of the ore indicate that the bauxite at Qarkhotlou was locally experienced transportation and re-deposition. Geochemical data indicate that the Qarkhotlou bauxite deposit has bauxite and bauxitic clay compositions, and suggests that trachy andesibasalt lavas are the main component of their parent material. This data reveals that the bauxite horizon at Qarkhotlou formed in pH of 4 to 7 and Eh of 0.4 to 0.6 and experienced a moderate degree of lateritization. The bauxite samples and trachy andesibasalt lava show similar chondrite-normalized REE patterns indicating that they are genetically related. The petrographical, textural and geochemical studies of the Qarkhotlou deposit indicate that this deposit can be classified as Mediterranean karst bauxite.

Keywords

References

Abedini, A., 2002. Economic geological survey of bauxite-laterite deposits of western Miyandoab (around Qoppi Babaali village). M.Sc. Thesis, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran, p.163.
Abedini, A., Calagari, A.A., 2014. REE geochemical characteristics of titanium-rich bauxites: The Permian Kanigorgeh horizon, NW Iran. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences 23 (5), 513–532.
Abedini, A., Calagari, A.A., 2015. Mobilization and redistribution of major and trace elements in a lateritic profile: The Sheikh-Marut deposit, NW Iran. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 8, 10871–10882.
Abedini, A., Calagari, A.A., Rezaei Azizi, M., 2018. The tetrad-effect in rare earth elements distribution patterns of titanium-rich bauxites: Evidence from the Kanigorgeh deposit, NW Iran. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 186, 129–142.
Ahmadnejad, F., Zamanian, H., Taghipour, B., Zarasvandi, A., Buccione, R., Ellahi, S.S., 2017. Mineralogical and geochemical evolution of the Bidgol bauxite deposit, Zagros Mountain Belt, Iran: Implications for ore genesis, rare earth elements fractionation and parental affinity. Ore Geology Reviews 86, 755–783.
Babakhani A., Sadeghi A. 2004. Geological map of Zanjan, scale 1:100000, Geological Survey and mineral exploration of Iran.
Balasubramaniam, K., Surendra, M., Kumar, T.R., 1987. Genesis of certain bauxite profiles from India. Chemical Geology 60 (1–4), 227-235.
Bárdossy, G., 1982. Karst bauxites. Elsevier Scientific Publication, Amsterdam. p.441.
Bárdossy, G., Aleva, G.J.J., 1990. Lateritic bauxites. Developments in Economic Geology 27, Elsevier Scientific Publication, Amsterdam, p. 624.
Bárdossy, G., Combes P.J., 1999. Karst bauxites: Interfingering of deposition and palaeoweathering. In: Thiry, M., Coincon, R.S. (Editors), Palaeoweathering, palaeosurfaces and related continental deposits. Association of Sedimentologists Special Publications, Blackwell Science, Alden Press, p. 189–206.
Beyala, V.K.K., Onana, V.L., Priso, E.N.E., Parisot, J., Ekodeck, G.E., 2009. Behaviour of REE and mass balance calculations in a lateritic profile over chlorite schists in South Cameroon. Chemie der Erde (Geochemistry) 69, 61–73.
Bogatyrev, B.A., Zhukov, V.V., Tsekhovsky, Y.G., 2009. Formation conditions and regularities of the distribution of large and super-large bauxite deposits. Lithology and Mineral Resources 44(2), 135–151.
Boni, M., Rollinson, G., Mondillo, N., Balassone, G., Santoro, L., 2013. Quantitative mineralogical characterization of karst bauxite deposits in the southern Apennines, Italy. Economic Geology 108 (4), 813–833.
Bradbury, M.H., Baeyens, B., 2002. Sorption of Eu on Na- and Ca-montromorillonites: Experimental investigations and modeling with cation exchange and surface complexation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 66(13), 2325–2334.
Byrne, R.H., Kim, K.H., 1990. Rare earth element scavenging in sea water. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 54 (10), 2645–2656.
Calagari, A.A., Abedini, A., 2007. Geochemical investigations on Permo-Triassic bauxite horizon at Kanisheeteh, east of Bukan, West-Azarbaidjan, Iran. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 94 (1–3), 1–18.
Delvigne, J., 1998. Atlas of micromorphology of mineral alteration and weathering. The Canadian Mineralogist Special Publication 3, Ottawa, p.509.
Eshghabadi, M., 2015. Final exploration report of laterite in Qarkhotlou area. Industry, Mine and Trade Organization of Zanjan, Zanjan, p. 86 (in Persian)
Evans, A.M., 1993. Ore Geology and industrial minerals: An introduction. Blackwell, London, p. 389.
Ferenczi, P., 2001. Iron ore, manganese and bauxite deposits of the northern Territory. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Northern Territory, Report 13, p. 113.
Garrels, R., Christ, C.M., 1965. Solutions, minerals, and equilibria. Harper and Raw, New York, p. 450.
Ghasemi, M., Abedini, A., Calagari, A.A., 2019. Mineralogy and REEs geochemistry of the Zaraj-Sou bauxite deposit, southwest of Ramsar, north Iran. Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy 27 (2), 295–306. (in Persian with English abstract).
Gu, J., Huang, Z., Fan, H., Jin, Z., Yan, Z., Zhang, J., 2013. Mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of lateritic bauxite deposits in the Wuchuan–Zheng'an–Daozhen area, Northern Guizhou Province, China. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 130, 44–59.
Habibzadeh, E., Shamanian, G.H., Omrani, H., 2014. Textural element investigation of the Jajarm karstic bauxite: Composition and formation condition. Journal of Economic Geology 6 (1), 163–176 (in Persian with English abstract).
Hill, I., Worden, R., Meighan, I.G., 2000. Geochemical evolution of a paleolaterite: The Interbasaltic Formation, Northern Ireland. Chemical Geology 166 (1–2), 65–84.
Horbe, A., Anand, R.R., 2011. Bauxite on igneous rocks from Amazonia and southwestern of Australia: Implication for weathering process. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 111 (1–2), 1–12.
Imamalipour, A., Mirmohammadi, M., 2011. Mineralogy and geochemistry of corundum-bearing metabauxite-laterite from Heydarabad, SE Urmia, NW Iran. Iranian journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy 19 (1), 59–72.
Johannesson, K.H., Lyons, W.B., Stetzenbach, K.J., Byrne, R.H., 1995. The solubility control of rare earth elements in natural terrestrial waters and the significance of PO4-3 and CO3-2 in limiting dissolved rare earth concentrations: A review of recent information. Aquat Geochem 1(2), 157–173.
Johannesson, K.H., Stetzenbach, K.J., Hodge, V.F., Lyons, W.B., 1996. Rare earth element complexation behavior in circumneutral pH groundwaters: Assessing the role of carbonate and phosphate ions. Earth and Planetary Science 139 (1–2), 305–319.
Kangarani, F., 2008. Consideration of geochemistry and mineralogy in Biglar bauxitic horizon (northwest of Abgarm, Gazvin province). M.Sc. Thesis, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran, p. 100.
Karadağ, M.M., Küpeli, Ş., Arýk, F., Ayhan, A., Zedef, V., Döyen, A., 2009. Rare earth element (REE) geochemistry and genetic implications of the Mortaş bauxite deposit (Seydişehir/Konya–Southern Turkey). Geochemistry 69 (2), 143–159.
Khosravi, M., Abedini, A., Alipour, S., Mongelli, G., 2017. The Darzi-Vali bauxite deposit, West-Azarbaidjan Province, Iran: Critical metals distribution and parental affinities. Journal of African Earth Sciences 129, 960–972.
Kiaeshkevarian, M., Calagari, A.A., Abedini, A., Shamanian, Gh., 2020. Geochemical aspects of minor and rare earth elements in the Gheshlagh bauxite deposit, Golestan Province, North of Iran. Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geosciences 29 (116), 125–134. (in Persian with English abstract).
Kiaeshkevarian, M., Calagari, A.A., Abedini, A., Shamanian. G., 2019. Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Siahrudbar bauxite deposit, Golestan Province, north of Iran. Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy 27 (3), 507–520. (in Persian with English abstract).
Komlóssy, G., 1976. Minéralogie, géochimie et génétique des bauxites du Viet Nam du nord. Acta Geologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 20 (3–4), 199–244.
Laskou, M., 1991. Concentrations of rare earths in Greek bauxites. Acta Geologica Hungarica 34 (4), 195–404.
Laskou, M., 2003. Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the bauxite deposits of Western Greece. Mineral Exploration and Sustainable Development 77 (1), 93–96.
Liaghat, S., Hosseini, M., Zarasvandi, A., 2003. Determination of the origin and mass change geochemistry during bauxitization process at the Hangam deposit, SW Iran. Geochemistry Journal 37, 627–637.
Ling, K.Y., Zhu, X.Q., Tang, H.S., Wang, Z.G., Yan, H.W., Han, T., Chen, W.Y., 2015. Mineralogical characteristics of the karstic bauxite deposits in the Xiuwen ore belt, Central Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Ore Geology Reviews 65 (1), 84–96.
Liu, X., Wang, Q., Deng, J., Zhang, Q., Sun, S., Meng, J., 2010. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations of the Dajia Salento-type bauxite deposits, western Guangxi, China. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 105 (3), 137–152.
Liu, X., Wang, Q., Zhang, Q., Feng, Y., Cai, S., 2012. Mineralogical characteristics of the super-large Quaternary bauxite deposits in Jingxi and Debao counties, western Guangxi, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 52, 53–62.
Liu, X., Wang, Q., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., 2016. Genesis of REE minerals in the karstic bauxite in western Guangxi, China, and its constraints on the deposit formation conditions. Ore Geology Reviews 75, 100–115.
Long, Y., Chi, G., Liu, J., Jin, Z., Dai, T., 2017. Trace and rare earth elements constraints on the sources of the Yunfeng paleo-karstic bauxite deposit in the Xiuwen-Qingzhen area, Guizhou, China. Ore Geology Reviews 91, 404–418.
Ma, J., Wei, G., Xu, Y., Long, W., Sun, W., 2007. Mobilization and re-distribution of major and trace elements during extreme weathering of basalt in Hainan Island, South China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71, 3223–3237.
Mameli, P., Mongelli, G., Oggiano, G., Dinelli, E., 2007. Geological, geochemical and mineralogical features of some bauxite deposits from Nurra (western Sardinia, Italy): Insights on conditions of formation and parental affinity. International Journal of Earth Sciences 96 (5), 887–902.
Mongelli, G., Boni, M., Buccione, R., Sinisi, R., 2014. Geochemistry of the Apulian karst bauxites (southern Italy): Chemical fractionation and parental affinities. Ore Geology Reviews 63, 9–21.
Mongelli, G., Boni, M., Oggiano, G., Mameli, P., Sinisi, R., Buccione, R., Mondillo, N., 2017. Critical metals distribution in Tethyan karst bauxite: The cretaceous Italian ores. Ore Geology Reviews 86, 526–536.
Mongelli, G., Buccione, R., Gueguen, E., Langone, A., Sinisi, R., 2016. Geochemistry of the Apulian allochthonous karst bauxite, southern Italy: Distribution of critical elements and constraints on Late Cretaceous Peri-Tethyan palaeogeography. Ore Geology Reviews 77, 246–259.
Mongelli, G., Buccione, R., Sinisi, R., 2015. Genesis of autochthonous and allochthonous Apulian karst bauxites (southern Italy): Climate constraints. Sedimentary geology 325, 168–176.
Monsels, D.A., Bergen, M.J.V., 2017. Bauxite formation on Proterozoic bedrock of Suriname. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 180, 71–90.
Mordberg, L.E., Stanley, C.J., Germann, K., 2001. Mineralogy and geochemistry of trace elements in bauxites: the Devonian Schugorsk deposit, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 65 (1), 81–101.
Mutakyahwa, M., Ikingura, J., Mruma, A., 2003. Geology and geochemistry of bauxite deposits in Lushoto district, Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences 36 (4), 357–369.
Ndjigui, P.D., Bilong, P., Bitom, D., Dia, A., 2008. Mobilization and redistribution of major and trace elements in two weathering profiles developed on serpentinites in the Lomié ultramafic complex, South-East Cameroon. Journal of African Earth Sciences 50, 305–328.
Nori Nav, F., Zohdi, A., Kouhestani, H., Mokhtari, M.A.A., 2019. Stratigraphy, sedimentary environment and geochemistry of the Ruteh Formtaion in Qarkhotlou region, southwest of Zanjan. Journal of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Researches 35 (3), 57–78.
Norton, S.A., 1973. Laterite and bauxite formation. Economic Geology 68 (3), 353–361.
Özlü, N., 1983. Trace-element content of karst bauxites and their parent rocks in the Mediterranean belt. Mineralium Deposita 18 (3), 469–476.
Öztürk, H.S., Hein, J.R., Hanilçi, N., 2002. Genesis of the Dogankuzu and Mortas bauxite deposits, Taurides, Turkey: Separation of Al, Fe, and Mn and implications for passive margin metallogeny. Economic Geology 97 (5), 1063–1077.
Patterson, S.H., 1967. Bauxite reserves and potential aluminum resources of the world. United State Geological Survey, Washington, p. 176.
Petrascheck, W., 1989. The genesis of allochthonous karst-type bauxite deposits of southern Europe. Mineralium Deposita 24 (2), 77–81.
Price, G.D., Valdes, P.J., Sellwood, B.W., 1997. Predication of modern bauxite occurrence: Implications for climate reconstruction. Paleogeography Paleoclimatology Paleoecology 131 (1–2), 1–13.
Putzolu, F., Papa, A.P., Mondillo, N., Boni, M., Balassone, G., Mormone, A., 2018. Geochemical characterization of bauxite deposits from the Abruzzi mining district (Italy). Minerals 8 (298), 1–24.
Reinhardt, N., Proenza, J.A., Villanova-de-Benavent, C., Aiglsperger, T., Bover-Arnal, T., Torró, L., Salas, R., Dziggel, A., 2018. Geochemistry and mineralogy of rare earth elements (REE) in bauxitic ores of the Catalan Coastal Range, NE Spain. Minerals 8 (562), 1–25.
Reolid, M., Abad, I., Martin-Garcia, J.M., 2008. Palaeoenvironmental implications of ferruginous deposits related to a Middle–Upper Jurassic discontinuity (Prebetic Zone, Betic Cordillera, southern Spain). Sedimentary Geology 203 (1–2), 1–16.
Santos, M.D.C., Varajao, A.F.D.C., Yvon, J., 2006. Geochemistry of a sedimentary lateritic kaolin deposit in Quadrilatero Ferrifero, Brazil. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 88 (1–3), 318–320.
Salamab Ellahi, S., Taghipour, B., Zarasvandi, A., Bird, M.I., Karimzadeh Somarin, A., 2016. Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Stable Isotope Studies of the Dopolan Bauxite Deposit, Zagros Mountain, Iran. Minerals 6 (11), 1–21.
Schellmann, W., 1986. On the geochemistry of laterites. Chemie der Erde 45, 39–42.
Shamanian, G.H. Monfared, Z., Omrani H. 2015. Stratigraphic, petrographic and facies characteristics of the Tash and Astaneh bauxitic-lateritic deposits in easthern Alborz: Paleoenvironmental implications. Sedimentary Facies 8 (1), 71–86.
Sholkovitz, E.R., 1995. The aquatic chemistry of rare earth elements in rivers and estuaries. Aquatic Geochemistry 1 (1), 1–34.
Sinsi, R., 2018. Mineralogical and geochemical features of Cretaceous bauxite from San Giovanni Rotondo (Apulia, southern Italy): A provenance tool. Minerals 8 (567), 1–19.
Taylor, G., Eggleton, T., 2004. Little balls: The origin of the Weipa bauxite. Regolith 2004, 350–254.
Taylor, G., Eggleton, R.A., Foster, L.D., Tilley, D.B., Le Gleuher, M., Morgan, C.M., 2008. Nature of the Weipa bauxite deposit, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 55 (S1), 45–70.
Taylor, S.R., McLennan, S.M., 1985. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, p. 312.
Temur, S., Kansun, G., 2006. Geology and petrography of the Masatdagi diasporic bauxites, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 27 (4), 512–522.
Temur, S., 2006. A geochemical approach to parent rocks of the Maşatdaği diasporic bauxite, Alanya, Antalya, southern Turkey. Geochemistry International 44 (9), 941–952.
Valeton, I., 1972. Bauxites. Developments in Soil Science, Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 226.
Valeton, I., 1999. Saprolite bauxite facies of ferralitic duricrusts on paleosurfaces of former Pangaea. In: Thiry, M., Coincon, R.S. (Editors), Palaeoweathering, palaeosurfaces and related continental deposits. Association of Sedimentologists Special Publications, Blackwell Science, Alden Press, p. 153–188.
Wang, X., Jiao, Y., Du, Y., Ling, W., Wu, L., Cui, T., Zhou, Q., Jin, Z., Lei, Z., Weng, S., 2013. REE mobility and Ce anomaly in bauxite deposit of WZD area, Northern Guizhou, China. Journal of Chemical Geology 133, 103–117.
White, A., 1976. Genesis of low iron bauxite, northeastern Cape York, Queensland, Australia. Economic Geology 71 (8), 1526–1532.
Whitney, D.L., Evans, B.W., 2010. Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American mineralogist 95 (1), 185–187.
Yalcin, M.G., Ilhan, S., 2013. Major and trace element geochemistry of bauxites: Ayranci, Karaman, Central Bolkardag, Turkey. Asian Journal of Chemistry 25, 2893–2904.
Yang, S., Huang, Y., Wang, Q., Deng, J., Liu, X., Wang, J., 2019. Mineralogical and geochemical features of karst bauxites from Poci (western Henan, China), implications for parental affinity and bauxitization. Ore Geology Reviews 105, 295–309.
Ye, L., Cheng, Z.T., Pan, Z.P., 2007. The REE geochemical characteristics of the Xiaoshanba bauxite deposit, Guizhou. Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry 26 (3), 228–233.
Yu, W., Ruihu, W., Qilian, Z., Yuansheng, D., Yue, C., Yuping, L., 2014. Mineralogical and geochemical evolution of the Fusui bauxite deposit in Guangxi, south China: From the original Permian orebody to a Quarternary Salento-type deposit. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 146, 75–88.
Zamanian, H., Ahmadnejad, F., Zarasvandi, A., 2016. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations of the Mombi bauxite deposit, Zagros Mountains, Iran. Chemie der Erde 76 (1), 13–37.
Zamanian, H., Beiranvand, G., Ahmadnejad, F., 2019. Mineralogy, Geochemistry and the Origin of the Bagoushi Karst Bauxite Deposit, Northwestern Fars Province, Iran. Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geosciences 28 (112), 269–280. (in Persian with English abstract).
Zarasvandi, A., Carranza, E.J.M., Ellahi, S.S., 2012. Geological, geochemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the Mandan and Deh-now bauxite deposits, Zagros Fold Belt, Iran. Ore Geology Reviews 48, 125–138.
Zarasvandi, A., Charchi, A., Carranza, E.J.M., Alizadeh, B., 2008. Karst bauxite deposits in the Zagros mountain belt, Iran. Ore Geology Reviews 34 (4), 521–532.
Zarasvandi, A., Zamanian, H., Hejazi, E., 2010. Immobile elements and mass changes geochemistry at Sar-Faryab bauxite deposit, Zagros Mountains, Iran. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 107 (1), 77–85.
Zohdi, A. 2018. Sedimentary environment and sequence stratigraphy of the Ruteh Formation in the west of Zanjan (Agh-Bolagh section). Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geosciences 27 (108), 133–144. (in Persian with English abstract).
Advanced Applied Geology
Volume 12, Issue 3
October 2022
Pages 424-451

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics