Geochemistry and origin of Mn-deposits in the Waziristan ophiolite complex, north Waziristan, Pakistan

The Waziristan ophiolite complex is located along the western margin of the Indian plate in northwestern Pakistan. The Mn-deposits in the Saidgi and Shuidar areas are part of this ophiolite complex. These deposits, both banded and massive in nature, are hosted by metachert and are generally overlying metavolcanics. Braunite and cryptocrystalline quartz are the main constituents of the manganese ores in both areas. Hematite occurs in the Shuidar deposits as a minor phase. Metacherts are microcrystalline aggregates of microcrystalline quartz, chalcedony, and lesser hematite. Chemically, the studied Mn-deposits and associated metacherts are very similar to those formed by submarine hydrothermal effusive processes. The deposits originated along sea-floor spreading centers (mid-ocean ridges) within the Neo-Tethys Ocean and were later obducted as part of the Waziristan ophiolite complex. Received: 9 January 1998 / Accepted: 10 March 1999     

广东梅县锰矿物质成份的研究

随着我国钢铁工业和化学工业的迅猛发展,对锰矿资源的需求,日益增加.梅县锰矿公司对该县的锰矿地质和锰矿生产做了大量工作.在前人工作的基础上,我们在锰矿资源的调研中,曾对广东省梅县的宝山岗、白沙坪、桃尧大华、宝坑、仙水塘、磔角坑、车陂等地的锰矿体、进行过采样工作.经室内鉴定后、梅县的锰矿石有优质的放电锰矿石和冶金用锰矿石、矿床规模属于中小型.梅县锰矿资源的生产,继续已有20多年的历史,在矿床的质和量方面尚需做更深入的研究,以便为矿山开采和锰矿生产提供更充分的依据.本文是对锰矿物质成分初步研究的部分结果.     

Composition and formation of fossil manganese nodules in Jurassic to Cretaceous radiolarites from the Nicoya Ophiolite Complex (NW Costa Rica)

Horizons of several types of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous manganese nodules occur locally in sequences of radiolarian cherts within the Nicoya Ophiolite Complex (NW Costa Rica). Field studies, X-ray diffraction analysis, petrographic, chemical and experimental studies give evidence of a sedimentary, early diagenetic origin of the nodules, in contrast to earlier suggestions. Smooth, discoidal, compact and very dense nodules with diameters of some mm to 9 cm dominate. They are characterized by braunite, hollandite, pyrolusite and quartz as well as 39–61% Mn, 0.9–1.6% Fe, 5–26% SiO₂, 1.3–1.9% A1₂O₃, 1.5–3.0% Ba, 460–5400 ppm Cu, 85–340 ppm Ni and 40–130 ppm Co, among others. It is suggested that the original mineralogy (todorokite?) was altered during thermometamorphic (braunite) and hydrothermal (hollandite, pyrolusite) events. Petrographic similarities between the fossil nodules and modern deep-sea nodules are striking. Using standard hydrothermal techniques in an experimental study it is shown that under special conditions, braunite can be produced from modern nodule material.     

Mineralogy,paragenesis and genesis of the braunite deposits of the Mary Valley Manganese Belt,Queensland, Australia

The Mary Valley manganese deposits exhibit mineralogy and textures characteristic of at least four parageneses. The deposits consist mainly of isolated occurrences of braunite, together with a number of lower and higher valency manganese oxides, and manganese silicates, in bedded radiolarian cherts and jaspers of Permian age. The parageneses are: (a) Braunite — quartz (primary), (b) Braunite — hausmannite — spessartine — tephroite — quartz (metamorphic). (c) Hydrated manganese silicates — barite — braunite — hausmannite (hydrothermal veins), (d) Tetravalent manganese oxides (pyrolusite, cryptomelane, manjiroite, nsutite) (supergene). The primary mineralisation is interpreted as the result of the geochemical separation of Mn from Fe in a submarine exhalative system, and the precipitation of Mn as oxide within bedded radiolarian oozes and submarine lavas. During diagenesis this hydrothermal manganese oxide reacted with silica to produce primary braunite. The later geological of evolution of this volcanogenicsedimentary deposit involved metamorphism, hydrothermal veining by remobilised manganese, and supergene enrichment.     

Geological and Geochemical Investigation of Three Ophiolite‐Hosted Manganese Prospects,Southeast of Birjand,South Khorasan,East of Iran

The studied ophiolite‐hosted manganese prospects are located in southeast of Birjand, South Khorasan, in the east of Iran. The manganese ores within the ophiolitic sequence in this region occur as small discrete patches, associated with radiolarian chert and shale. Manganese ores in the host rocks are recognizable as three distinct syngenetic, diagenetic, and epigenetic features. The syngenetic manganese ores occurred as bands associated with light‐red radiolarian chert. The diagenetic Mn ores occurred as lenses accompanied by dark‐red to brown radiolarian chert. The epigenetic Mn ores occurred as veins/veinlets within the green radiolarian shale. The major manganese ore minerals are pyrolusite, braunite, bixbyite, ramsdellite, and romanechite showing replacement, colloidal, and brecciated textures. The high mean values of Mn/Fe (15.32) and Si/Al (15.65), and the low mean concentration values of trace elements, such as Cu (85.9 ppm), Ni (249.9 ppm), and Zn (149 ppm), as well as the high concentration values of Si, Fe, Mn, Ba, Zn, Sr, and As in the studied manganese ores furnished sufficient evidence to postulate that the sea‐floor Mn‐rich hydrothermal exhalatives were chiefly responsible for the ore formation, and the hydrogenous processes had negligible role in generation of the ores. The further geological and geochemical evidence also revealed that the ores deposited on the upper parts of the ophiolitic sequence by submarine exhalatives. The intense hydrothermal activities caused leaching of elements such as Mn, Fe, Si, Ba, As and Sr from the basaltic lavas (spilites). After debouching of the sea‐floor exhalatives, these elements entered the sedimentary basin. The redox conditions were responsible for separation of Fe from Mn.     

Manganese mineralization in Archean greenstone belt,Joda–Noamundi sector,Noamundi basin,East Indian Shield

A Mesoarchean greenstone belt (3.5–3.0 Ga) in the western part of the East Indian Shield comprising the Iron Ore Group of the Noamundi basin contains economic resources of both iron and manganese ores in the NNE plunging regional synclinorium. Manganese mineralization in the central and eastern parts of this synclinorium, particularly in Joda–Noamundi sector, has taken place in multiple cycles starting from syngenetic sedimentary and exhalative type through mobilization and remobilization in different stages of tectonism, deformation and hydrothermal activities to latest lateritic or supergene type. A relatively high temperature metamorphic jacobsite–hausmannite–bixbyite–braunite assemblage, low temperature hydrothermal pyrolusite–psilomelane–hollandite assemblage and supergene pyrolusite–manganomelane–groutite–polianite assemblage are present and were formed by recycling of manganese in different stages of mineralization. A detailed structural study of the manganese ore bodies as well as their ore petrographic and mineralogical characteristics with mineral chemistry has revealed systematic mineralization and their relation to deformational phases. Such recycling of manganese and its structural control of mineralization in different phases is unique of its kind in comparison with other Archean manganese deposits in the world.     

Investigation on the role of microorganisms in manganese mineralization from Abadeh-Tashk area,Fars Province,southwestern Iran by using petrographic and geochemical data

Hydrothermal manganese and ferromanganese deposits associated with Neyriz ophiolite colored mélange occurred as small ore deposits in the Abadeh-Tashk area, SE of Fars Province, SW Iran. The deposits are found in three types: a) banded syngenetic ores, b) massive boudin and lens shaped diagenetic ores and c) vein and veinlet epigenetic ores. Microtextural, geochemical and mineralogical data associated with petrographic Raman, FTIR and SEM studies indicated that the primary Fe compounds formed series of microbially mediated biomats and Mn compounds were precipitated as an amorphous oxide on an active oxide surface accompanying silica gels. Field relationships between ore and host rock, high Mn/Fe ratio (17.43 to 40.79), ΣLREE, positive Eu and negative Ce anomalies in syngenetic ore types reveal that the ores were formed by hydrothermal fluid in an oceanic floor environment. Manganese was fractionated from iron due to physicochemical changes as well as microbial activities in the sedimentary environment. Microbial remains as filamentous beads with regular circular shapes, vermiform structures, series of Fe-rich biomats, traces of embedded organic material besides trace metals and REE concentrations in Mn ores emphasize the role of microorganisms in Fe and Mn precipitation. Syngenetic mineralization took place under suboxic neutrophilic conditions, while diagenetic processes resulted in variably reduced Fe- and Mn-oxides via organic matter decomposition, forming rhodochrosite as the end product. Braunite formation occurred most probably as a biogeochemically mediated early diagenetic product. Diagenetic and epigenetic Mn ores were formed when primary Mn deposits underwent subsequent diagenetic and remobilization–redeposition events respectively.     

Geochemistry of braunite and associated phases in metamorphosed non-calcareous manganese ores of India

In the metamorphosed manganese oxide ores of India, braunite is ubiquitous in all assemblages from chlorite to sillimanite grades. Chemical analyses of braunite from different prograde assemblages confirm the presence of a fixed R²⁺ (=Mn²⁺+Mg+Ca) SiO₃ molecule in the mineral. Element partitioning between coexisting braunite and bixbyite indicates a near-ideal mixing of Fe⁺³/ -Mn⁺³ in the phases. This also indicates that braunite became relatively ferrian while equilibrating with associated phases such as bixbyite, hollandite and jacobsite during prograde reactions. Petrogenetic studies show that as a general trend, prograde lower oxide phases appeared by deoxidation of higher oxide phases. But braunite, a more reduced phase than bixbyite, appeared early from deoxidation of pyrolusite in presence of quartz. Bixbyite could appear later from the reacting pyrolusite-braunite-quartz assemblage. Inferred mineral reaction paths and the general trend of pro-grade deoxidation reactions suggest that the composition of ambient fluid phase was internally buffered during metamorphism.     

鄂东北早元古代沉积变质锰矿元素矿物组合特征

鄂东北早元古代沉积变质锰矿是我国时代最古老的锰矿之一,是由早元古代锰质碳酸盐岩经区域变质作用而成,后又经风化富集形成工业矿床。由于特殊的地质构造背景和成矿作用的多阶段性,元素和矿物组合复杂,具有独特性。本文研究了各种组分的演变关系和元素集散因素,为锰质碳酸盐岩在高压绿片岩相区域动力变质及其后表生作用中的演变提供了一个实例。     

Geology,geochemistry and genesis of the Godar Sabz Mn deposit in the Baft region,Iran

The Godar Sabz Mn deposit is located in the Nain-Baft ophiolitic belt in the northeast margin of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, Iran. The Nain-Baft back-arc extensional basin resulted from the subduction of the oceanic crust of Neo-Tethys under the southern margin of the Iranian Plate in the Early Cretaceous and hosts several mineral deposits, including volcanogenic massive sulfide, chromite, and Mn deposits. The mineralization in the Godar Sabz Mn deposit occurred predominantly as stratabound, massive, banded, layered, and lenticular orebodies in radiolarian cherts within Baft ophiolitic complex. The main ore minerals are pyrolusite, braunite, with minor amounts of todorokite. The significant geochemical features of the Godar Sabz ores, such as the high MnO content (21.82–80.65 wt%, average = 64.91 wt%), high Mn/Fe (average = 278), Si/Al ratios (average = 92.6), high Ba contents (average = 4495.6 ppm), the low average contents of Cu (81.8 ppm), Ni (106.2 ppm), Co (29.4 ppm), LREE > HREE, and trace element discrimination diagrams indicate a hydrothermal-exhalative source for mineralization. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of studied ores have negative Ce and slightly positive Eu anomalies, which are similar to hydrothermal Mn deposits. The REE patterns of Mn ores coincide with basaltic lavas, suggesting that the Mn-mineralization in the Godar Sabz deposit was genetically related to the leaching of basaltic lavas. The Godar Sabz Mn deposit has many similarities with the main characteristics of the hydrothermal exhalative Mn deposits, including tectonic setting, host rock type, the morphology of orebodies, ore textures, mineralogy, and chemical features of ores.     

Geology,Geochemistry and Re–Os systematics of manganese deposits from the Santa Rosalía Basin and adjacent areas in Baja California Sur,México

The manganese ores in the Santa Rosalía region, western Mexico, are mainly stratiform horizons or mantos, constrained to the initial stages of sedimentary cycles of the Miocene Boléo Formation. The manganese mineralization is generally restricted to isolated paleo-basins and related to NW–SE faults formed during the early stages of the opening of the Gulf of California. Jasper, Fe, and Mn oxides associated to the NW–SE structures may represent feeder zones for the mineralized system. The manganese oxide minerals include pyrolusite, cryptomelane, todorokite, hollandite, jacobsite, and pyrochroite. Trace elements in the manganese ores indicate a hydrothermal origin for the deposits of the Santa Rosalía area. Rare earth elements (REE) patterns obtained for manganese minerals from the Lucifer and El Gavilán deposits also support a hydrothermal origin, whereas the middle REE enrichment observed in samples from the Boléo district indicates mixing between hydrothermal and hydrogenous sources. Osmium and rhenium concentrations of the manganese minerals range between 33–173 ppt and 0.14–89 ppb, respectively. The initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in the manganese oxides from Lucifer and the Boléo district range between 0.43 to 0.51 and 0.70 to 0.74, respectively. These ratios are different from seawater at 7 Ma (0.84–0.89), which suggests important contributions of osmium from underlying rocks such as the Miocene volcanic rocks and the Cretaceous quartz–monzonite basement. Field evidence, manganese oxide mineralogy coupled with major and trace element geochemistry and Re–Os systematics support a hydrothermal origin for the manganese deposits from the Santa Rosalía region. The ore deposition style indicates an exhalative-intraformational environment restricted to isolated basins in a diagenetic stage related to the initial evolution of the Gulf of California.     

Structural controls and timing of fault-hosted manganese at Woodie Woodie,East Pilbara,Western Australia

High-grade fault-hosted manganese deposits at the Woodie Woodie Mine, East Pilbara, are predominantly hydrothermal in origin with a late supergene overprint. The dominant manganese minerals are pyrolusite, braunite, and cryptomelane. The ore bodies are located on, or near the unconformities between the Neoarchean Carawine Dolomite and the Paleoproterozoic Pinjian Chert breccia (weathering product of Carawine Dolomite), and sedimentary units of the overlying ca 1300–1100 Ma Manganese Group. Stratabound manganese is typically located above or adjacent to steep fault-hosted manganese. The ore bodies range in size from 0.2 to 5.5 Mt with an average of 0.5 Mt. Historically, over 35 Mt of manganese has been mined at Woodie Woodie, and current ore resources are 29.94 Mt at 39.94% Mn, 6.96% Fe (resource and reserves statement, June 2011, Consolidated Minerals Pty Ltd).Manganese mineralization at Woodie Woodie is related to northwest–southeast directed extension and basin formation during the Mesoproterozoic. Basin architecture is generally well preserved and major manganese occurrences are localised along growth faults which down-throw the Pinjian Chert Breccia into local extensional basins. Manganese ore bodies are typically located on steep 2nd and 3rd order structures that extend off the major growth faults. Mineralized structures display a dominant northeast-trend reflecting the direction of maximum dilation during northwest–southeast extension.A paragenetic sequence is identified for the manganese ore at Woodie Woodie, with early hydrothermal braunite–pyrolusite–cryptomelane–todorokite–hausmannite, overprinted by late supergene oxides. Preliminary fluid inclusion studies in quartz crystals intergrown with pyrolusite and cryptomelane indicate that primary and pseudosecondary inclusions display a range of salinities from 1 to 18 eq. wt.% NaCl and trapping temperatures estimated to be from 220º to 290º at 1 kbar pressure.A lead–manganese oxide (coronadite) is common in manganese ores at Woodie Woodie, and Pb-isotope studies of 40 lead-rich ore samples from 16 pits indicate mineralization occurred within an age range of 955–1100 Ma. A mixed source is suggested for the lead, but was predominantly basalts and/or volcanogenic sedimentary units (e.g., Jeerinah Formation) of the ca 2700 Ma Fortescue Group. The typically high Mn:Fe ratios and enrichment in elements such as Pb, As, Cu, Mo, Zn are consistent with a dominantly hydrothermal origin for the manganese at Woodie Woodie. Supergene manganese is distinguished from hypogene manganese by a marked enrichment in REE in the supergene manganese.An early structural framework, established during Neoarchean rifting, provides a major structural control on manganese ore distribution. The Woodie Woodie mine corridor is located in a zone of oblique strike-slip extension on major northwest-trending transform faults and north-trending oblique normal faults. A major transform structure at the southern end of the Woodie Woodie mine corridor (Jewel-Southwest Fault Zone) likely acted as a major fluid conduit for manganese-bearing hydrothermal fluids and this would account for the concentration of significant manganese ore occurrences to the north and south of this structure.     

新疆西天山莫托萨拉热水沉积型铁锰矿床矿物学与地球化学特征

莫托萨拉铁锰矿床位于西天山阿吾拉勒成矿带东端,研究程度相对薄弱,在矿床成因方面存在热水沉积、沉积-热液改造、胶体化学沉积等争论。本文详细研究了莫托萨拉最上层锰矿及其围岩的矿物组成、结构构造和地球化学特征,并综合前人资料对整个铁锰矿床的成因做了进一步探讨。本研究首次在矿区发现了热液长石岩,其主要由钠长石、钾长石以及少量重晶石、霓石、锌铁黄长石等矿物组成,类似于"白烟型"热水沉积岩。莫托萨拉最上层锰矿主要由锰橄榄石、褐锰矿、红硅锰矿、磁锰铁矿以及少量重晶石、方铁锰矿等矿物组成,发育有典型的热水内碎屑结构,指示其沉积于海底热液喷流口附近。该层锰矿的Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)值很低(0～0.02)、Si/Al值较高(7.9～10.9)、Fe/Ti值很高(428～1353),通过UCC标准化后发现明显富集Zn、Ba、Pb等元素,而Co、Ni、Cu等元素未见富集,以上地球化学特征与现代海底热液成因铁锰沉积物一致。在Fe/Ti-Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)、Si O2-Al2O3、10×(Co+Ni+Cu)-Fe-Mn、100×(Zr+Ce+Y)-15×(Cu+Ni)-(Fe+Mn)/4等判别图中,莫托萨拉的锰矿层和铁矿层样品均落在海底热液沉积区。锰矿层和铁矿层的稀土元素经PAAS标准化后具有明显的Ce负异常、Eu正异常和Y正异常,与现代海底热液成因铁锰沉积物的稀土配分模式非常相似。综合分析本次研究的矿物学、岩石学、地球化学特征以及前人资料,本文认为莫托萨拉铁锰矿床为海相热水沉积成因,成矿与同期海底火山的间歇性活动密切相关,海底热液的化学组分、温度高低和活动强弱都具有明显的脉动性。莫托萨拉矿区铁锰共存但各自独立成矿,且铁锰分离程度较高,这在显生宙沉积型锰矿中独具特色。鉴于前人曾报道莫托萨拉铁矿石中存在菌藻类微生物化石,我们推测,该矿床的铁锰分离过程除了受控于沉积环境的氧化还原条件变化外,微生物的选择性氧化沉淀可能也发挥了重要作用,值得开展深入研究。     

Manganese oxide mineralogy,petrography and genesis,Pilbara Manganese Group,Western Australia

Supergene manganese oxides, occurring in shales, breccias and dolomites of Proterozoic Age, in the Western Australian Pilbara Manganese Group, have Mn/Fe ranging from 1.9 to 254 and Mn⁴⁺ to Mn (Total) of 0.49–0.94. The manganese mineralogy is dominated by tetravalent manganese oxides, especially by cryptomelane, with lesser amounts of pyrolusite, nsutite, manjiroite, romanechite and other manganese oxide minerals. The manganese minerals are commonly associated with iron oxides, chiefly goethite, indicating incomplete separation of Mn from Fe during Tertiary Age arid climate weathering of older, manganiferous formations. These manganese oxides also contain variable amounts of braunite and very minor hausmannite and bixbyite. The braunite occurs in three generations: sedimentary-diagenetic, recrystallised sedimentary-diagenetic, and supergene. The mode of origin of the hausmannite and bixbyite is uncertain but it is possible that they resulted from diagenesis and/or low-grade regional metamorphism. The supergene manganese deposits appear to have been derived from manganiferous Lower Proterozoic banded iron formations and dolomites of the Hamersley Basin and overlying Middle Proterozoic Bangemali Basin braunite-containing sediments.     

Geochemistry and genetic model of the ore-bearing sediments of the Parnok ferromanganese deposit, Polar Urals

The Parnok ferromanganese deposit is confined to the black shales of the western slope of the Polar Urals. The deposit area is made up of weakly metamorphosed terrigenous-carbonate rocks formed in a marine basin at a passive continental margin. Ore-bearing sequence is composed of coaliferous clayey-siliceous-calcareous shales comprising beds and lenses of pelitomorphic limestones, and iron and manganese ores. The iron ores practically completely consist of micrograined massive magnetite. The manganese ores are represented by lenticular-bedded rocks consisting of hausmannite, rhodochrosite, and diverse manganese silicates. With respect to relations between indicator elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Ti), the shales are ascribed to pelagic sediments with normal concentrations of Fe and Mn, the limestones correspond to metalliferous sediments, ferruginous sediments are ore-bearing sediments, while manganese rocks occupy an intermediate position. It was found that the concentrations of trace elements typical of submarine hydrothermal solutions (As, Ge, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn, etc.) in both the ore types are in excess of those in lithogenic component. At the same time, the indicator elements of terrigenous material (Al, Ti, Hf, Nb, Th, Zr, and others) in the ores are several times lower than those in the host shales (background sediments). REE distribution patterns in iron ores show the positive Eu anomaly, while those in manganese ores, the positive Ce anomaly. In general, the chemical composition of the ores indicates their formation in the hydrothermal discharge zone. The peculiar feature of the studied object is the manifestation of hydrothermal vents in sedimentary basin without evident signs of volcanic activity. Hydrothermal solutions were formed in terrigenous-carbonate sequence mainly at the expense of buried sedimentation waters. The hydrothermal system was likely activated by rejuvenation of tectonic and magmatic processes at the basement of sedimentary sequences. Solutions leached iron, manganese, and other elements from sedimentary rocks and transported them to the seafloor. Their discharge occurred in relatively closed marine basin under intermittent anaerobic conditions. Eh-pH variations led to the differentiation of Fe and Mn and accumulation of chemically contrasting ore-bearing sediments.     

Rare Earth Element Enrichment in Late Archean Manganese Deposits from the Iron Ore Group,East India

The major, trace and rare earth element (REE) composition of Late Archean manganese, ferromanganese and iron ores from the Iron Ore Group (IOG) in Orissa, east India, was examined. Manganese deposits, occurring above the iron formations of the IOG, display massive, rhythmically laminated or botryoidal textures. The ores are composed primarily of iron and manganese, and are low in other major and trace elements such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, P₂O₅ and Zr. The total REE concentration is as high as 975 ppm in manganese ores, whereas concentrations as high as 345 ppm and 211 ppm are found in ferromanganese and iron ores, respectively. Heavy REE (HREE) enrichments, negative Ce anomalies and positive Eu anomalies were observed in post‐Archean average shale (PAAS)‐normalized REE patterns of the IOG manganese and ferromanganese ores. The stratiform or stratabound shapes of ore bodies within the shale horizon, and REE geochemistry, suggest that the manganese and ferromanganese ores of the IOG were formed by iron and/or manganese precipitation from a submarine, hydrothermal solution under oxic conditions that occurred as a result of mixing with oxic seawater. While HREE concentrations in the Late Archean manganese and ferromanganese ores in the IOG are slightly less than those of the Phanerozoic ferromanganese ores in Japan, HREE resources in the IOG manganese deposits appear to be two orders of magnitude higher because of the large size of the deposits. Although a reliable, economic concentration technique for HREE from manganese and ferromanganese ores has not yet been developed, those ores could be an important future source of HREE.     

Implications of rock mineralogy and texture on the feasibility of in situ leach mining of Mn-bearing iron formations of central Minnesota,U.S.A.

The U.S. Bureau of Mines is investigating the feasibility of extracting Mn using in situ leach mining methods. Among the deposits being examined are the iron formations of the Cuyuna range, Minnesota, which contain high-tonnage, low grade deposits of manganese oxides. Manganese minerals identified include pyrolusite, cryptomelane-hollandite, manganite, braunite and lithiophorite. Ore reactivities, as measured by batch leaching tests using aqueous SO₂, are compared to theoretical estimates of the leaching behavior of individual manganese minerals based on kinetic and thermodynamic evaluations. Experimental results in some cases show opposite trends to those predicted by theoretical estimates. In batch leaching tests of Cuyuna Range ores, texture was shown to be of greater importance, than thermodynamic reactivity in determining amenability to leaching. Predicting the practical potential for recovery of Mn by in situ leaching must involve identification of the effects of texture (massive, fractured-host, or interstitial) in addition to ore mineral reactivity.     

Rare Earth, Major and Trace Elements in the Kunimiyama Ferromanganese Deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan

Abstract. Rare earth, major and trace element geochemistry is reported for the Kunimiyama stratiform ferromanganese deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, central Shikoku, Japan. The deposit immediately overlies greenstones of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) origin and underlies red chert. The ferromanganese ores exhibit remarkable enrichments in Fe, Mn, P, V, Co, Ni, Zn, Y and rare earth elements (excepting Ce) relative to continental crustal abundance. These enriched elements/ Fe ratios and Post-Archean Average Australian Shale-normalized REE patterns of the ferromanganese ores are generally analogous to those of modern hydrothermal ferromanganese plume fall-out precipitates deposited on MOR flanks. However in more detail, Mn and Ti enrichments in the ferromanganese ores are more striking than the modern counterpart, suggesting a significant contribution of hydrogenetic component in the Kunimiyama ores. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that the Kunimiyama ores were umber deposits that primarily formed by hydrothermal plume fall-out precipitation in the Panthalassa Ocean during the Early Permian and then accreted onto the proto-Japanese island arc during the Middle Jurassic. The presence of strong negative Ce anomaly in the Kunimiyama ores may indicate that the Early Permian Panthalassa seawater had a more striking negative Ce anomaly due to a more oxidizing oceanic condition than today.     

四川黑水地区锰矿床特征与找矿远景

黑水地区锰矿床主要赋存于下三叠统菠茨沟组地层中,受构造控制。矿石矿物主要有硬锰矿、软锰矿、褐锰矿、菱锰矿、钙菱锰矿等。脉石矿物主要有磁铁矿、针铁矿、黄铁矿等。主成矿元素锰的资源量可达特大型以上,属于沉积变质型锰矿床。该区及外围均具有很大的找矿潜力。     

Mineralogy and major-trace element geochemistry of the Haymana manganese mineralizations,Ankara, Turkey

The study area comprises Çayirli, Harapa?illari and Ortabel (ÇHO) districts in the Haymana town 25 km SW of the Ankara city. In this study, geologic setting, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of manganese mineralizations are examined and their origin is discussed. Data were obtained from field observations, various polished and thin section determinations and chemical analyses of 25 ore samples. Major and trace element analyses were conducted with ICP-ES and ICP-MS methods at ACME Laboratories (Canada). ÇHO manganese ores are found in reddish radiolarites and partly interbedded marls of the Ankara ophiolitic melange of lower Cretaceous-upper Senonian age. In these extremely folded rocks, manganese is observed as band and lenses. All samples are composed of pyrolusite and quartz. Circular pyrolusites around the gangue form a ring texture and radiolarite ores yield spherical sections. In addition, breccia-like texture is observed between pyrolusite and quartz. Geologic setting, mineralogical and textural data indicate an exogene environment. Major and trace element abundances and correlation among them imply that ÇHO mineralizations are of hydrothermal origin and linked to the same source. Evaluation of all these data shows that ÇHO manganese mineralizations are of hydrothermal type sedimentary mineralization and they were deposited in distal part of the source.