A comprehensive assessment of huntite ore formation

Abstract

The Çameli basin (Southwestern Turkey), economically important exploitable huntite ore deposits are located a basin. The huntite deposits in the basin are the largest known deposits in worldwide. In this study, new huntite outcrops were identified in northeastern of the basin and the samples from the outcrops were analyzed. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were combined and comprehensive interpreted with literature studies. In the samples, average 70.4% huntite, 15.2% dolomite, and 14.4% larnite minerals were detected. Major element analysis showed an average of 28.62% MgO, 18.78% CaO, and 44.09% loss on ignition. Loss on ignition (LOI) values are 38.85-47.53%. CO2 values are 44.77% and 45.14%. In literature, huntite mineral is theoretically predicted to contain 34.15% MgO and 15.88% CaO. In the samples, the MgO values are 26.00-31.77% and CaO values are 18.50-19.66%. SrO values are 0.11-0.30%. Sr concentration in huntite indicates that Ca-rich karst waters play a role in huntite ore formation. The low SrO contents sign that the formation of huntite in Çameli basin is a result of the mixture of Mg-rich saline waters and small amounts of Ca-rich karstic waters from the basement. The results of the analyses, when compared with previous studies on huntite minerals, it is understood that all values are quite close to each other. Therefore, Mg- and Ca-rich solutions that precipitated during huntite ore formation played a role in releasing Sr on aragonite, which then precipitated together with Ca and Mg. This suggests that huntite is a product of the late meteoric phase and the primary mineral is aragonite. The results of this study indicate that huntite are an ore by carbonization of the altered serpentine according to SiO2-CaO-MgO contents.