Abstract
Tošići-Dujići bauxite deposit, situated in Dalmatian inlands, Croatia, contains minor remaining bauxite reserves. The deposit lies on Lower Eocene foraminiferal limestone and is covered by Upper Eocene Promina sediments. Bauxite samples were analyzed for textural, mineralogical, and geochemical features in order to determine absolute REE abundances and their relation to mineralogy, as well as to devise the origin of REE enrichment and to trace weathering and bauxitization paths of the parent material. The samples show total REE abundances up to 3500 mg/kg with significant HREE enrichment in some cases. All samples are gibbsitic with hematite and anatase as major phases. Kaolinite occurs in most of the samples, and goethite, böhmite, and nordstrandite are minor phases. Monazite-(Ce) and xenotime-(Y) were identified as detrital REE minerals as well as authigenic florencite-(Ce). In the REE most abundant sample, REE are most likely bound to Fe- and Ti-oxide phases as suggested by correlation analysis. Chemical weathering proxies show intensive weathering. Geochemical and textural data imply that the REE enrichment is influenced by intensive weathering (CIA 97.87–99.26) of detrital material, and also by possible deposition/redeposition of residual material potentially derived and mobilized from various sedimentary rocks of the area.
Highlights
IntroductionMany of them had been exploited in the past for local aluminum industry and export; exploitation ceased in 1990s
Bauxite deposits in the Oklaj area in inland Dalmatia, Croatia, are numerous
The content of Al2O3 ranges from 40–54% and SiO2 content is from 1–17% [1] making most of local bauxites exploitable for the aluminum industry. These bauxite deposits contain both gibbsite and böhmite, which are usually accompanied by hematite, goethite, anatase, and kaolinite
Summary
Many of them had been exploited in the past for local aluminum industry and export; exploitation ceased in 1990s. Bauxite reserves are largely exhausted, but some deposits are half-exploited or not exploited at all. The deposits are mostly of Late Eocene age. The content of Al2O3 ranges from 40–54% and SiO2 content is from 1–17% [1] (and references therein) making most of local bauxites exploitable for the aluminum industry. These bauxite deposits contain both gibbsite and böhmite, which are usually accompanied by hematite, goethite, anatase, and kaolinite
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