Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela)
Cobalt demand is increasing due to its key role in the transition to clean energies. Although the main Co ores are the sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Co is also a by-product of Ni–Co laterite deposits, where Co extraction efficiency depends, among...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/8/927 |
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| author | Cristina Domènech Cristina Villanova-de-Benavent Joaquín A. Proenza Esperança Tauler Laura Lara Salvador Galí Josep M. Soler Marc Campeny Jordi Ibañez-Insa |
| author_facet | Cristina Domènech Cristina Villanova-de-Benavent Joaquín A. Proenza Esperança Tauler Laura Lara Salvador Galí Josep M. Soler Marc Campeny Jordi Ibañez-Insa |
| author_sort | Cristina Domènech |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cobalt demand is increasing due to its key role in the transition to clean energies. Although the main Co ores are the sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Co is also a by-product of Ni–Co laterite deposits, where Co extraction efficiency depends, among other factors, on the correct identification of Co-bearing minerals. In this paper, we reported a detailed study of the Co mineralisation in the Ni–Co laterite profiles of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela). Cobalt is mainly associated with Mn-oxyhydroxide minerals, with a composition between Ni asbolane and lithiophorite, although a Co association with phyllosilicates has also been recorded in a Loma de Hierro deposit. In Loma Caribe, Co-bearing Mn-oxyhydroxide minerals mainly developed colloform aggregates, and globular to spherulitic grains, while in Loma de Hierro, they displayed banded colloform, fibrous or tabular textures. Most of the compositional analyses of Mn-oxyhydroxides yielded 20 and 40 wt.% Mn, with Ni and Co up to 16 and 10 wt.%, respectively. In both profiles, Mn-bearing minerals were mainly found in the transition from the oxide horizon to the saprolite, as observed in other laterite profiles in the world, where the precipitation of Mn-bearing minerals is enhanced because of the pore solution saturation and pH increase. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:51:42Z |
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| id | doaj.art-2c4483b490434acb8dedf8440a6f3f9d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:51:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c4483b490434acb8dedf8440a6f3f9d2023-12-02T00:03:06ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-07-0112892710.3390/min12080927Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela)Cristina Domènech0Cristina Villanova-de-Benavent1Joaquín A. Proenza2Esperança Tauler3Laura Lara4Salvador Galí5Josep M. Soler6Marc Campeny7Jordi Ibañez-Insa8Grup MAiMA, Mineralogia Aplicada, Geoquímica i Geomicrobiologia, Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Mineralogia, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Passeig Picasso s/n, 08003 Barcelona, SpainGeosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), Lluís Solé i Sabarís s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCobalt demand is increasing due to its key role in the transition to clean energies. Although the main Co ores are the sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Co is also a by-product of Ni–Co laterite deposits, where Co extraction efficiency depends, among other factors, on the correct identification of Co-bearing minerals. In this paper, we reported a detailed study of the Co mineralisation in the Ni–Co laterite profiles of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela). Cobalt is mainly associated with Mn-oxyhydroxide minerals, with a composition between Ni asbolane and lithiophorite, although a Co association with phyllosilicates has also been recorded in a Loma de Hierro deposit. In Loma Caribe, Co-bearing Mn-oxyhydroxide minerals mainly developed colloform aggregates, and globular to spherulitic grains, while in Loma de Hierro, they displayed banded colloform, fibrous or tabular textures. Most of the compositional analyses of Mn-oxyhydroxides yielded 20 and 40 wt.% Mn, with Ni and Co up to 16 and 10 wt.%, respectively. In both profiles, Mn-bearing minerals were mainly found in the transition from the oxide horizon to the saprolite, as observed in other laterite profiles in the world, where the precipitation of Mn-bearing minerals is enhanced because of the pore solution saturation and pH increase.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/8/927nickelcobaltmanganeselithiophoriteasbolanecritical metals |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Domènech Cristina Villanova-de-Benavent Joaquín A. Proenza Esperança Tauler Laura Lara Salvador Galí Josep M. Soler Marc Campeny Jordi Ibañez-Insa Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) Minerals nickel cobalt manganese lithiophorite asbolane critical metals |
| title | Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) |
| title_full | Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) |
| title_fullStr | Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) |
| title_short | Co–Mn Mineralisations in the Ni Laterite Deposits of Loma Caribe (Dominican Republic) and Loma de Hierro (Venezuela) |
| title_sort | co mn mineralisations in the ni laterite deposits of loma caribe dominican republic and loma de hierro venezuela |
| topic | nickel cobalt manganese lithiophorite asbolane critical metals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/8/927 |
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