Platinum-group elements in the serpentinite lateritic mantles of the Kongo–Nkamouna ultramafic massif (Lomié region, South-East Cameroon)

Abstract

The behaviour of PGE in a rainforest ecosystem were investigated in four lateritic profiles (Nkamouna, Napene, West and East Mada) developed on serpentinites in the Kongo–Nkamouna massif (Lomié region, South-East Cameroon). In serpentinites, the total PGE content attains 22 ppb whilst it ranges between 26 and 200 ppb in the weathering blanket. Amongst the analyzed elements (platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium), platinum and ruthenium contents are high in the saprolite zone and in the hardened materials of some weathering profiles (40–66 ppb for platinum, 50–71 ppb for ruthenium). Apart from the hardened materials, the total PGE content decreases from the coarse saprolite towards the clayey surface soil. The Fe 2O 3-PGE diagram indicates a relatively similar behaviour in these iron-rich samples. The Pt–Ir, Pt–Pd, Pt–Ru, Pt–Rh diagrams portray positive correlations between platinum and other PGE. This fact is supported by the positive correlation noticed between IPGE and PPGE. The Pt/Ir, Pt/Pd, Pt/Ru and Pt/Rh values indicate that iridium, palladium, ruthenium and rhodium are more mobile than platinum. These data confirm the mobility of PGE in laterites and the positive correlation reveals that PGE might be accommodated in the interfaces of iron oxides. The mass balance assessment shows that PGE are strongly leached from the Kongo–Nkamouna weathering blanket except in the coarse saprolite of the Nkamouna profile.