Lateritic concentrations of manganese oxyhydroxides and oxides

Latentes result from the weathering of a variety of rocks under humid tropical conditions. When developed at the expenses of Mn²⁺-bearing parent rocks, laterite consists of a thick mantle made up of manganese oxides and hydroxides. Two main examples are described from tropical Africa. The first example displays a lateritic profile on metamorphic rock; the second example deals with lateritic profiles developed on a Precambrian sedimentary rock. From the base to the top of the studied profiles, different Mn hydroxide and oxide sequences have differentiated. Their composition depends on (i) the constitutive parent minerals with vary ing weathering rates, (ii) the intensity of weathering which progresses towards the profile top permitting pseudomorphic replacement of Mn⁴⁺ oxides for early formed Mn³⁺ hydroxides. Most of the manganese ore result from a relative accumulation. However, Mn can also be mobilized in different places of weathering profiles leading to accumulations in other places, mainly at the base of weathering profiles. That absolute accumulation can occur in non-Mn-bearing weathering horizons (kaolinitic horizons) to form Mn nodules in which kaolinite is dissolved. This process provides Al which combines to Mn³⁺ forming Al-Mn hydroxides (lithiophorite).From these petrographical observations, stability field diagrams are proposed to explain the general evolution of Mn components under chemical lateritic conditions. These diagrams illustrate interactions between ions and manganese species.

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Zusammenfassung Latente entstehen durch Verwitterung verschiedener Gesteine in tropisch-feuchten Klimaten. Bildet sich Laterit aus Mn²⁺-führenden Ausgangsgestein, so besteht er aus einer dicken Schicht von Mangan-Oxiden und -Hydroxiden. Hier sollen zwei Beispiele aus tropischen Regionen Afrikas beschrieben werden:Das erste Beispiel ist ein Lateritprofil, daß das Hangende von Metamorphiten bildet; das zweite Laterite, die sich auf einem präkambrischen Sedimentgestein entwickelt haben. Von der Basis bis zu dem Top der jeweiligen Profile haben sich unterschiedliche Mangan-Hydroxid und -Oxid-Sequenzen herausgebildet. Die Zusammensetzung hängt ab von:(i) Den wesentlichen Ausgangsmineralien unter wechselnden Verwitterungspenoden und (ii) der Verwitterungsintensität, die zum Top des Profils zunimmt und damit die pseudomorphe Substitution von Mn³⁺-Hydroxiden zu Mn⁴⁺-Oxiden ermöglicht. Der Hauptanteil der Manganlagerstätte resultiert aus einer relativen Anreicherung. Allerdings kann Mn auch in verschiedenen Teilen des Verwitterungsprofiles mobilisiert werden, was zu einer Anreicherung in anderen Bereichen führt und zwar hauptsächlich an der Basis eines Profiles. Diese absolute Anreicherung kann in Mangan-freien Verwitterungshorizonten (Kaolinithorizonte) zur Bildung von Mangankonkretionen führen, in denen Kaolinit gelöst wird. Bei diesem Vorgang wird Al frei, das sich mit Mn³⁺ verbindet, um Al-Mn-Hydroxide (Lithiophorite) zu bilden.Mit Hilfe dieser petrographischen Beobachtungen werden Stabilitäts-Diagramme erstellt, die die allgemeine Entwicklung der Mn-Komponenten unter lateritischen Bedingungen zu erklären versuchen. Diese Diagramme erleutern die zwischen Ionen und Mangan stattfindenen Reaktionen.

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Résumé Les latérites résultent de l'altération chimique de roches de types variés, sous conditions tropicales humides. Les latérites se développent sur roches-mères à minéraux manganésifères à Mn²⁺ sous forme de cuirasses épaisses constituées d'oxydes et d'hydroxydes de manganèse. Deux exemples d'Afrique tropicale sont étudiés. Le premier exemple montre un profil d'altération latéritique développé sur roche métamorphique; le deuxième exemple traite de profils latéritiques développés sur une roche sédimentaire précambrienne. De la base vers le sommet des profils étudiés, se différencient des séquences d'oxydes et hydroxydes de manganèse. Elles sont fonction (1) des minéraux primaires dont les vitesses d'altération varient d'une phase à une autre, (2) de l'intensité de l'altération qui est d'autant plus forte que l'on monte dans le profil et qui permet le remplacement pseudomorphique d'hydroxydes à Mn³⁺ formés précocement par des oxydes à Mn⁴⁺. La plupart des gisements de manganèse résultent d'une accumulation relative; cependant, Mn peut être mobile à différents niveaux dans les profils d'altération et s'accumuler de manière absolue à d'autres, et en particulier à la base des profils. Cette accumulation absolue peut se produire dans des horizons non manganésifères (horizons kaolinitiques) et former des nodules de manganèse dans lesquels la kaolinite est dissoute libérant de l'aluminium qui se combine avec Mn³⁺ pour former un hydroxyde alumineux et manganésifère: la lithiophorite.A partir de ces observations pétrographiques, et après les avoir comparées avec celles d'autres gisements africains et brésiliens, des diagrammes de champs de stabilité sont proposés pour expliquer l'évolution générale des phases manganésifères sous conditions d'altération latéritique. Ces diagrammes illustrent les interactions entre ions en solution et minéraux manganésifères.

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