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Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits
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Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 16470

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Adam Piestrzyński

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: ore deposits; mineralogy; rare earth elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Stanisław Z. Mikulski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mineral Raw Materials and Energy Resources Department, Polish Geological Institute–National Research Institute, 4 Rakowiecka Street, 00-975 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: ore geology; economic geology; geochemistry; mineralogy; geochronology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of this Special Issue is relevant to the economic problems of all countries. The term ‘strategic elements’ has been replaced by the new nomenclature—critical raw materials (CRMs). Tens of related exploration projects are running globally, but only a few are related to mining. New technologies cannot exist without specific materials. It is a good time now to start serious work on mineral deposits of such importance. It is important to broaden knowledge on mineral deposits, which will be helpful in the further progress of humankind. This Special Issue should focus on metalliferous and rare metals deposits including REE. CRMs are listed by the European Commission and are an attractive target for investigation, and publications. Today, the list of CRMs is twice as long as it was in 2011; in 2020, Li, Ti, Sr, and bauxites were added.

We would like to encourage and invite you to prepare materials for publication in this Special Issue. Please consider that we are seeking articles describing deposits in which such elements such as Re, In, Ga, and Te occur as accompanying commodities only.

Prof. Dr. Adam Piestrzyński
Prof. Dr. Stanisław Z. Mikulski
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mineralogy
  • genetic types of mineral deposits
  • geochemistry
  • geological background, and geotectonic position
  • timing
  • co-occuring CRMs in mineral deposits

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 14425 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Jet Structure and Physical Properties in the Coalfields of Northern China
by Yuping Gao, Jinyu Gao, Kaitong Hu, Yufei Ma and Yuanzhi Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 11283; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122111283 - 7 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1768
Abstract
Archeological discoveries have identified China as one of the first countries in the world to use jet. However, many differences are evident between the jet currently found in existing mines and the archaeological discoveries of cultural relics in terms of texture and quality [...] Read more.
Archeological discoveries have identified China as one of the first countries in the world to use jet. However, many differences are evident between the jet currently found in existing mines and the archaeological discoveries of cultural relics in terms of texture and quality according to the definition of organic gem jet in gemology. This paper reports the results of microscopic analysis and coal quality analysis of the coal and jet samples from coal seams in Fushun Open-pit Mine and Datong Coalfield. The findings reveal that the physical and chemical composition of coal in different mining areas differs markedly. However, the differences between jet and coal in both mining areas are similar; that is, jet has lighter density and greater hardness (2–4) compared to coal, as well as elasticity (engravability), and both jet and coal occur in the (rock slurry) hydrothermal environment. Lastly, the analysis shows that the formation of jet depends on rubber-like hydrocarbon coal with a high degree of corruption in a sedimentary environment under the vulcanization of a hydrothermal, high-sulfur environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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30 pages, 8379 KiB  
Article
Ni-Co Bearing Laterites from Halmahera Island (Indonesia)
by Gustaw Konopka, Krzysztof Szamałek and Karol Zglinicki
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7586; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157586 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3041
Abstract
Eastern Indonesia, including the island of Halmahera, is a region with a high mineral potential, particularly Ni-Co, Au-Cu, and Ag ores, which are a globally important and critical source of raw materials (CRMs). The research was conducted within the framework of scientific cooperation [...] Read more.
Eastern Indonesia, including the island of Halmahera, is a region with a high mineral potential, particularly Ni-Co, Au-Cu, and Ag ores, which are a globally important and critical source of raw materials (CRMs). The research was conducted within the framework of scientific cooperation between the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw (Poland), and PT Halmahera Resources Percasa Ltd. (Jakarta, Indonesia) Between the years of 2009 and 2011, 42 boreholes were drilled using an impact system (up to 15 m below surface) and 3 test pits (up to 8 m below surface). The presence of a laterite deposit containing Ni-Co mineralization was identified on the license area. The resources estimated in accordance with JORC Code, with a cut-off grade Ni ≥ 0.5%, equaling 185,510 t Ni and 17,747 t Co, with the stock of raw material amounting to 14.8 million t and with an average content of 1.00% Ni and 0.13% Co. The ore in the deposit has mixed character. To date, studies have shown the dominance of oxide ore, but saprolite composed of magnesium silicates was also identified in significant amount. The Ni mineralization in oxide ore (limonite) is bound to goethite and manganese minerals, while in the case of silicate (saprolite) ore, it occurs locally in the form of veins as well as zonally in the weathered serpentinites. Cobalt mineralization is almost entirely related to the Mn minerals that occur in the lower oxide zone. It has been found that both serpentinites and harzburgites (and possibly locally lherzolite) are the parent rocks for laterite deposit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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26 pages, 6243 KiB  
Article
Trace Elements and Mineralogy of Upper Permian (Zechstein) Potash Deposits in Poland
by Grzegorz Czapowski, Hanna Tomassi-Morawiec, Bartosz Handke, Jacek Wachowiak and Tadeusz Marek Peryt
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 7183; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12147183 - 16 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2348
Abstract
Mineral composition and content analysis of selected trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, I, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn; 308 rock samples) were [...] Read more.
Mineral composition and content analysis of selected trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, I, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn; 308 rock samples) were studied in the Upper Permian (Zechstein) potash-bearing deposits in Poland. They represented K–Mg chlorides of PZ2 and PZ3 cyclothems from four salt domes and stratiform K–Mg sulphates of PZ1 cyclothem. The dominant mineral components of K–Mg sulphates (polyhalite) are anhydrite and polyhalite. The most common minerals of the K–Mg salts of PZ2 cyclothem are halite, sylvite, kieserite, and anhydrite, and the most common of PZ3 cyclothem are halite, carnallite, kieserite, and anhydrite. Most analysed trace elements in the Zechstein potash-bearing deposits show a low content (up to 26 mg/kg) that eliminates them as potential profitable source rocks of such required elements as Ce, Cs, La, Li, or Rb. Common elements, such as Br, Fe, and Sr, are more easily exploited from natural brines, sulphate, and ore deposits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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42 pages, 11173 KiB  
Article
Vanadium and Cobalt Occurrence in the Fe-Ti-V Oxide Deposits Related to Mesoproterozoic AMCG Complex in NE Poland
by Stanisław Z. Mikulski, Katarzyna Sadłowska, Janina Wiszniewska and Rafał Małek
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 6277; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126277 - 20 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3119
Abstract
On the basis of geochemical whole-rock and mineralogical point analyses, the concentrations of V and Co were determined in magnetite-ilmenite oxide ores, associated with sulphides, at the Krzemianka and Udryn deposits in the Mesoproterozoic Suwałki Anorthosite Massif (SAM) in NE Poland. EPMA analyses [...] Read more.
On the basis of geochemical whole-rock and mineralogical point analyses, the concentrations of V and Co were determined in magnetite-ilmenite oxide ores, associated with sulphides, at the Krzemianka and Udryn deposits in the Mesoproterozoic Suwałki Anorthosite Massif (SAM) in NE Poland. EPMA analyses showed that the main carrier of vanadium was magnetite (mean = 0.42 wt%) and, to a lesser extent, ilmenite (mean = 0.14 wt%) and minor Al-spinels (mean = 0.04 wt%). In turn, cobalt was found mainly in the form of isomorphic substitutions in magmatic sulphides such as pentlandite (mean = 4.41 wt% Co), pyrrhotite (mean = 0.16 wt%), and chalcopyrite (mean = 0.11 wt%). Moreover, Co-enrichments were also recognized in the secondary sulphides, such as pyrite and bravoite, replacing pyrrhotite (means = 1.6 and 2.7 wt% Co, respectively), and in the form of different thiospinels ((Fe, Ni) (Co, Ni)2S4), mainly siegenite (mean = 22.0 wt% Co), replacing pyrrhotite and pentlandite. Vanadium cations were substituted in Fe, Ti oxide minerals in place of Fe+3 cations, and in the case of cobalt, Fe+2 cations were substituted in sulphides and thiospinels. Vanadium and cobalt showed high Person’s correlation coefficients (r = 0.70), indicating their close spatial coexistence and a common source, which was parental anorthosite-norite magma of the SAM suites. The common magma genesis of magnetite-ilmenite and sulphide mineralization was also confirmed by the very similar shapes of the curves of REE content in the oxide-sulphide ores in relation to chondrite, in which negative Eu anomalies and positive Sm anomalies are clearly visible. Although the average contents of vanadium and cobalt were low (arithmetic means = 960 ppm, and 122 ppm, respectively), the resources of these metals were estimated to be large due to the enormous reserves of magnetite-ilmenite ores hosted by the SAM. However, the Fe-Ti-V ores associated with Fe, Ni, Co, and Cu sulphides were considered to be sub-economic because of their depth of occurrence (mainly 1.0 km below the surface level); their metal contents, which were usually too low; and additionally the fact that the location is in a highly environmentally protected landscape and lake area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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17 pages, 9228 KiB  
Article
Geology and Petrogeochemistry of Lijiapuzi Nb-Ta Granitic Pegmatite Deposit: Implications for Ore Genesis and Prospecting
by Jianfei Fu, Yuzeng Yao, Jing Liu, Zining Li, Sanshi Jia and Yemao Pang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2542; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052542 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2073
Abstract
Most of the rare metal pegmatite deposits in China lie in West, Central and South China, and the Lijiapuzi Nb-Ta deposit is the only pegmatite-type Nb-Ta deposit in Northeast China, therefore a detailed study of the Lijiapuzi deposit is of great importance to [...] Read more.
Most of the rare metal pegmatite deposits in China lie in West, Central and South China, and the Lijiapuzi Nb-Ta deposit is the only pegmatite-type Nb-Ta deposit in Northeast China, therefore a detailed study of the Lijiapuzi deposit is of great importance to the metallogeny and exploration of rare metal deposits in Northeast China. The Nb-Ta bearing pegmatites in Lijiapuzi district are composed of a microcline wall zone, a muscovite (lepidolite)-albite intermediate zone and a quartz core, and the rare metal mineralization mainly occurs in the intermediate zone and is intimately related to the albitization. The lithogeochemical features indicate that Lijiapuzi pegmatoids are rich in silicon and alkaline, poor in calcium, magnesium, titanium and phosphorus, and belong to peraluminous granitoid rocks. The enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depletion of high field-strength elements (HFSEs), the distinct right-inclined REE pattern with obvious Eu negative anomaly, lower ratio of Nb/Ta and higher ratio of La/Nb and Rb/Sr indicate that the pegmatite was of a crustal origin and formed in relatively extensional tectonic setting of post-orogenesis. The pegmatites in Lijiapuzi area can be divided into two categories, i.e., the NW-trending pegmatites are shorter and thicker, with obvious zoning and localized in the upper part of the near-surface, while the NE-trending pegmatites are longer, thinner, devoid of zoning and localized in the lower part of the district. This probably means that excellent ore prospecting potential exists in the lower part of the Lijiapuzi district. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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20 pages, 4618 KiB  
Article
A Fluid Inclusion and Critical/Rare Metal Study of Epithermal Quartz-Stibnite Veins Associated with the Gerakario Porphyry Deposit, Northern Greece
by Christos L. Stergiou, Vasilios Melfos, Panagiotis Voudouris, Lambrini Papadopoulou, Paul G. Spry, Irena Peytcheva, Dimitrina Dimitrova and Elitsa Stefanova
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(2), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020909 - 17 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
The Gerakario Cu-Au porphyry deposit in the Kilkis ore district, northern Greece, contains epithermal quartz-stibnite veins on the eastern side of the deposit, which crosscut a two-mica gneiss. Metallic mineralization in these veins consists of stibnite + berthierite + native antimony + pyrite [...] Read more.
The Gerakario Cu-Au porphyry deposit in the Kilkis ore district, northern Greece, contains epithermal quartz-stibnite veins on the eastern side of the deposit, which crosscut a two-mica gneiss. Metallic mineralization in these veins consists of stibnite + berthierite + native antimony + pyrite + arsenopyrite, and minor marcasite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, löllingite, and native gold. Bulk geochemical analyses of the ore reveal an enrichment in critical and rare metals, including Ag, Au, Bi, Ce, Co, Ga, La, and Sb. Analysis of stibnite with LA-ICP-MS showed an enrichment in base metals (As, Cu, Pb), as well as weak to moderate contents of critical and rare metals (Ag, Bi, Ce, La, Re, Sm, Th, Ti, Tl). A statistical analysis of the trace elements show a positive correlation for the elemental pairs Ce-La, Ce-Sb, and La-Sb, and a negative correlation for the pair Bi-Sb. Fluid inclusions in the A-type veins of the porphyry-style mineralization show the presence of fluid boiling, resulting in a highly saline aqueous fluid phase (35.7 to 45.6 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and a moderately saline gas phase (14 to 22 wt.% NaCl equiv.) in the system H2O-NaCl-KCl at temperatures varying between 380° and 460 °C and pressures from 100 to 580 bar. Mixing of the moderate saline fluid with meteoric water produced less saline fluids (8 to 10 wt.% NaCl equiv.), which are associated with the epithermal quartz-stibnite vein mineralization. This process took place under hydrostatic pressures ranging from 65 to 116 bar at a depth between 600 and 1000 m, and at temperatures mainly from 280° to 320 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy of Critical Elements Deposits)
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