The use and development of portable spectroscopic tools pXRF, pLIBS, pRAMAN, pVNIR-SWIR aid in the mineral exploration sector by obtaining fast and flexible geochemical data. This is the aim of the educational research program ERASMUS+ ARTeMIS (Action for Research and Teaching). As a side project of this higher-education collaborative programme, our study applies to the specific detection of Manganese oxides. A combination of pXRF and pLIBS, both oriented for elemental analysis, is applied in the exploration of manganese mineralization in Kato Nevrokopi mining center, Drama district, N. Greece. The mineralization is hosted in marbles and displays zonation with the deeper mineralized hydrothermal veins comprising mixed sulphides (sphalerite-rich and minor pyrite-pyrrhotine-chalcopyrite-marcasite), rhodochrosite, ankerite, and quartz. The upper mineralized zones occur at high altitude plateaus of Mt. Falakron; they are of supergene origin and constitute the economically most important ore. The main orebodies of Mn-oxide ore are those found in the weathered upper levels of the veins and in karstic cavities and consist of todorokite, nsutitechalcophanite or nsutite-birnessite-cryptomelane-pyrolusite and nanocrystalline Mnoxides, depending on the degree of alteration/oxidation of the primary ore. Conventional XRF analysis of bulk ore indicated a significant difference in the metal endowment of Mn-oxide minerals between the orebodies of the 25th km and Mavro Xylo mines. The nsutite-rich samples show enrichment in most metals, e.g., Pb (0.3%), Zn (1.3%), Cu (138 ppm), Sr (0.11%), Sb (81 ppm), Ag (67 ppm), As and Au. Todorokite shows accumulation of Mo and W, as opposed to nsutite. Bulk ore analysis by pXRF, elemental mapping through pLIBS, and mineralogical analysis by conventional techniques are applied to complex manganese oxide ore for the identification of systematic relationships of Mn-oxide minerals – host rock alteration –characteristic trace metal accumulation.
Application of portable spectroscopic tools in the exploration of manganese oxide minerals: the case study of Drama Mn-oxide deposits, Northern Greece
Konstantinos Mavrogonatos;
2023-01-01
Abstract
The use and development of portable spectroscopic tools pXRF, pLIBS, pRAMAN, pVNIR-SWIR aid in the mineral exploration sector by obtaining fast and flexible geochemical data. This is the aim of the educational research program ERASMUS+ ARTeMIS (Action for Research and Teaching). As a side project of this higher-education collaborative programme, our study applies to the specific detection of Manganese oxides. A combination of pXRF and pLIBS, both oriented for elemental analysis, is applied in the exploration of manganese mineralization in Kato Nevrokopi mining center, Drama district, N. Greece. The mineralization is hosted in marbles and displays zonation with the deeper mineralized hydrothermal veins comprising mixed sulphides (sphalerite-rich and minor pyrite-pyrrhotine-chalcopyrite-marcasite), rhodochrosite, ankerite, and quartz. The upper mineralized zones occur at high altitude plateaus of Mt. Falakron; they are of supergene origin and constitute the economically most important ore. The main orebodies of Mn-oxide ore are those found in the weathered upper levels of the veins and in karstic cavities and consist of todorokite, nsutitechalcophanite or nsutite-birnessite-cryptomelane-pyrolusite and nanocrystalline Mnoxides, depending on the degree of alteration/oxidation of the primary ore. Conventional XRF analysis of bulk ore indicated a significant difference in the metal endowment of Mn-oxide minerals between the orebodies of the 25th km and Mavro Xylo mines. The nsutite-rich samples show enrichment in most metals, e.g., Pb (0.3%), Zn (1.3%), Cu (138 ppm), Sr (0.11%), Sb (81 ppm), Ag (67 ppm), As and Au. Todorokite shows accumulation of Mo and W, as opposed to nsutite. Bulk ore analysis by pXRF, elemental mapping through pLIBS, and mineralogical analysis by conventional techniques are applied to complex manganese oxide ore for the identification of systematic relationships of Mn-oxide minerals – host rock alteration –characteristic trace metal accumulation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
