Mineralogical and Chemical Characterization of Zr-REE-Nb Ores from Khalzan Buregtei (Mongolia)—Approaches to More Efficient Extraction of Rare Metals from Alkaline Granitoids

Alkaline rocks are worldwide observed as hosts for rare metal (Zr-REE-Nb) minerals. The classification of the ore bearing rock type is challenging due to the fact that textures and mineral assemblage are obscured by post-magmatic alteration. In addition, the alteration causes fine and intricate inte...

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Published inMinerals (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 217
Main Authors Gronen, Lars Hans, Sindern, Sven, Katzmarzyk, Janet Lucja, Bormann, Udo, Hellmann, André, Wotruba, Hermann, Meyer, F. Michael
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2019
Subjects
alkaline rocks
automated mineralogy
Automation
Case studies
Classification
Crystals
Economics
Feasibility studies
Grain size
Hydrothermal activity
Investigations
Khalzan Buregtei
Magma
Metal concentrations
Metals
Mineral composition
Mineral processing
Mineralization
Mineralogy
Minerals
Mining
Ores
Organic chemistry
Properties
Rock
Rocks
Spatial variations
Stone
Trace elements
Zirconium
Zr-REE-Nb deposits
Mongolia
United Kingdom > UK
Aachen Germany
Germany
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Summary:Alkaline rocks are worldwide observed as hosts for rare metal (Zr-REE-Nb) minerals. The classification of the ore bearing rock type is challenging due to the fact that textures and mineral assemblage are obscured by post-magmatic alteration. In addition, the alteration causes fine and intricate intergrowth of the ore minerals with associated gangue. Hence, intensive comminution is necessary to liberate the ore minerals, which is one parameter hampering the economical use of this deposit type. This study provides a quantitative mineralogical investigation of the ore bearing rock suite at Khalzan Buregtei as an example of rare metal deposits. R1-R2 multication parameters are shown to be highly appropriate as quantitative mineralogical indicators based on readily available major element datasets to visualize and quantify alteration types of the ore bearing rock suite. The ore minerals were found to be associated with a cluster-forming assemblage of post-magmatic phases. Automated mineralogy was applied to quantify the textural properties of the ore mineral clusters. This finding permits efficient pre-concentration of rare metal ore at coarser particle size fraction, requiring less energy consuming comminution.
ISSN:2075-163X
2075-163X
DOI:10.3390/min9040217