Abstract
Conditions and principal geochemical trends in the formation of bauxite-bearing lateritic mantles are considered on the example of Fouta Djalon-Mandingo Bauxite-bearing Province as the best natural model. Input and output dynamics of petrogenic components was calculated on the isovolumetric base and the obtained data were used to interpret the zoned structure of weathered profile as resulting from its hydrogeological and gas regimes. Although Al separates from Fe in the formation of bauxite horizon, three-valence iron is a typomorphic element of the lateritic landscape as a whole, with 50% Al leaching from lateritic mantle.
Highlights
The Fouta Djalon-Mandingo bauxite-bearing province occupying an area only of some 100000 km2 is the largest in the world, as holding 47 Bt bauxites, about 50% the worlds bauxite resources, calculated at Al2O3 cutoff grade 40%
What are the important conclusions to be made on these data? First of all, typical of formation of the whole lateritic mantles (LM) that occurs above kaolinite clays dominating at the surface of relief is the highest absolute accumulation of iron: Cc is almost 4
The objective data based on the largescale rather than any local example rule out the thesis of maximum aluminum inertness in LM
Summary
The Fouta Djalon-Mandingo bauxite-bearing province occupying an area only of some 100000 km is the largest in the world, as holding 47 Bt bauxites, about 50% the worlds bauxite resources, calculated at Al2O3 cutoff grade 40% It may and should be considered as a natural model of the environmental conditions and geochemical trends most favorable for large-scale formation of bauxite-bearing lateritic mantles (LM). The overwhelming majority of researchers have agreed that the most favorable climate is that with a high annual air temperature (over 20°С) and abundant rainfall (over 1100-1300 mm/year), classified as monsoon-type, typical of the landscapeclimatic zones of wet savanna They agreed that the favorable environment appeared only after a partition of pediplains and essential downcutting – a descent of local base level.
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