Erratum to: Mobilization and redistribution of major and trace elements in a lateritic profile: the Sheikh-Marut deposit, NW Iran

Abstract

The Sheikh-Marut deposit is one of typical REE-rich lateritic deposits of Permian age in northwest of Mahabad, NW Iran. In this study, using geochemical techniques for calculation of mass changes and correlation coefficients, the effective factors in mobilization and redistribution of major and trace elements during lateritization processes across a selected profile were considered. Based upon TOC (total organic carbon) values, the ores across the profile were divided into two parts: (1) TOC-rich in the upper part and (2) TOC-poor in the lower part of the profile. Mass change calculations illustrated that elements such as Al, Fe, Ti, Th, V, Ni, Co, Cr, Be, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ta, and Sn were leached out from the TOC-rich part and were added to the TOC-poor section during lateritization processes. In addition, elements like Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cs, Y, Rb, Sr, Ba, and U were leached out from both the TOC-rich and the TOC-poor sections of the profile, and elements such as Mn, As, Cd, Tl, and Ga were enriched during lateritization. Incorporation of the results obtained from mass change calculations and correlation coefficients among elements demonstrated that factors such as presence or absence of organic ligands, physico-chemical conditions (Eh and pH) of depositional environment, and mineral control are three principal factors dominating leaching and redistribution of major and trace elements in the studied lateritic profile. The obtained results also revealed that scavenging by metallic oxides was rather more effective than adsorption mechanism in concentration of most trace elements in the studied ores.