Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES, cilt.10, sa.18, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)
The Minim-Martap plateau bauxite deposit, located between the Minim and the Martap villages, is one of the 11 plateaus within the Minim-Martap bauxite region. The plateau has an elevation of 1294 m above sea level, with three to more 30 m thickness of bauxite horizon. These plateaus were formed as result of supergene weathering of volcanic rocks occurring as dissected flow basalt landscapes that form relatively flat plateau rising steeply from the surrounding granites. The bauxite deposit of the plateau is lateritic, with the surface of the plateau been completely covered by indurated caps. Seventeen bauxite samples were collected from the plateau and prepared for geochemical analysis. Whole rock analysis was carried out using the X-ray Fluorescence technique and ICP-MS was used for trace elements investigation. Statistical analysis reveals that average values of Al2O3 (54.87%), Fe2O3 (7.17%), SiO2 (2.44%), and TiO2 (4.54%) indicate the plateau bauxite deposit is an of a world class standard with very little impurities compared to the standard major element contents of bauxite (> 40% Al2O3, less than < 20% Fe2O3, and less than < 8% combined SiO2). Abundant trace elements include Zr, Ce, Sr, V, Ba, La, Nd, Ga, and Nb. Weathering due to chemical alteration indices using the Ruxton ratio and CIA approaches revealed the plateau have undergone intense weathering process that formed the bauxite deposit. Three different classification systems indicate it as a low iron-rich bauxite deposit. Precursor rock investigation indicates the origin of the bauxite is mafic, basaltic andesite igneous rocks with intermediate pH (basic-acidic characteristic).