Preliminary study of scandium enrichment in Çaldağ-Manisa lateritic Ni-Co Deposit, Western Anatolia

Nilay Gülyüz

Article Details

Preliminary study of scandium enrichment in Çaldağ-Manisa lateritic Ni-Co Deposit, Western Anatolia

Authors:

Nilay Gülyüz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Genel Jeoloji | Maden Yatakları ve Jeokimya | Mineraloji-Petrografi

Journal:

Yerbilimleri Vol.45 Issue 3, pp.185-206

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338070

pISSN:

1301-2894

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Scandium is one of the most valuable critical metals, with high demand in applications ranging from biomedical research to electronics. Lateritic Ni-Co deposits are considered prime targets for scandium Sc exploration because Sc can be concentrated during weathering through residual and secondary enrichment, reaching up to 100 ppm and making it a potential by-product. This study investigates the distribution of Sc in the unweathered parent rocks and various laterite zones within two distinct pits of the Çaldağ lateritic Ni-Co deposit in Western Anatolia. In the Hematite pit, the serpentinite protolith shows an average Sc content of 10.3 ppm, with significant enrichment in the middle-upper limonite zone, reaching up to 66 ppm. Although this represents a sixfold increase compared to the serpentinite protolith, the maximum Sc concentrations 53.665.7 ppm are relatively low compared to other nickel laterites with by-product Sc potential 100 ppm. This lower concentration is attributed to the initial low Sc content of the serpentinized peridotite protolith and post-lateritization tectonic activity. Conversely, the South pit exhibits higher initial Sc content in the protolith 13 ppm but lower average Sc content 6.4 ppm in the limonite zone, likely due to post-lateritization dissolution of Sc-hosting minerals by alteration and secondary weathering processes within the highly deformed pit. The findings suggest that while the Çaldağ deposit exhibits Sc concentrations up to 66 ppm in the limonite zones, the potential for Sc as a by-product alongside Ni production is limited. Further detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigations are recommended to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of Sc distribution in the Çaldağ deposit and other lateritic deposits in Türkiye.

 Scandium is one of the most valuable critical metals, with high demand in applications ranging from biomedical research to electronics. Lateritic Ni-Co deposits are considered prime targets for scandium Sc exploration because Sc can be concentrated during weathering through residual and secondary enrichment, reaching up to 100 ppm and making it a potential by-product. This study investigates the distribution of Sc in the unweathered parent rocks and various laterite zones within two distinct pits of the Çaldağ lateritic Ni-Co deposit in Western Anatolia. In the Hematite pit, the serpentinite protolith shows an average Sc content of 10.3 ppm, with significant enrichment in the middle-upper limonite zone, reaching up to 66 ppm. Although this represents a sixfold increase compared to the serpentinite protolith, the maximum Sc concentrations 53.665.7 ppm are relatively low compared to other nickel laterites with by-product Sc potential 100 ppm. This lower concentration is attributed to the initial low Sc content of the serpentinized peridotite protolith and post-lateritization tectonic activity. Conversely, the South pit exhibits higher initial Sc content in the protolith 13 ppm but lower average Sc content 6.4 ppm in the limonite zone, likely due to post-lateritization dissolution of Sc-hosting minerals by alteration and secondary weathering processes within the highly deformed pit. The findings suggest that while the Çaldağ deposit exhibits Sc concentrations up to 66 ppm in the limonite zones, the potential for Sc as a by-product alongside Ni production is limited. Further detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigations are recommended to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of Sc distribution in the Çaldağ deposit and other lateritic deposits in Türkiye.

 Scandium is one of the most valuable critical metals, with high demand in applications ranging from biomedical research to electronics. Lateritic Ni-Co deposits are considered prime targets for scandium Sc exploration because Sc can be concentrated during weathering through residual and secondary enrichment, reaching up to 100 ppm and making it a potential by-product. This study investigates the distribution of Sc in the unweathered parent rocks and various laterite zones within two distinct pits of the Çaldağ lateritic Ni-Co deposit in Western Anatolia. In the Hematite pit, the serpentinite protolith shows an average Sc content of 10.3 ppm, with significant enrichment in the middle-upper limonite zone, reaching up to 66 ppm. Although this represents a sixfold increase compared to the serpentinite protolith, the maximum Sc concentrations 53.665.7 ppm are relatively low compared to other nickel laterites with by-product Sc potential 100 ppm. This lower concentration is attributed to the initial low Sc content of the serpentinized peridotite protolith and post-lateritization tectonic activity. Conversely, the South pit exhibits higher initial Sc content in the protolith 13 ppm but lower average Sc content 6.4 ppm in the limonite zone, likely due to post-lateritization dissolution of Sc-hosting minerals by alteration and secondary weathering processes within the highly deformed pit. The findings suggest that while the Çaldağ deposit exhibits Sc concentrations up to 66 ppm in the limonite zones, the potential for Sc as a by-product alongside Ni production is limited. Further detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigations are recommended to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of Sc distribution in the Çaldağ deposit and other lateritic deposits in Türkiye.

 Skandiyum, biyomedikal araştırmalardan elektroniğe kadar çeşitli uygulamalarda yüksek talep gören en değerli kritik metallerden biridir. Lateritik Ni-Co yatakları skandiyum Sc aramaları için başlıca hedefler olarak kabul edilir çünkü Sc ayrışma sırasında kalıntı ve ikincil zenginleştirme yoluyla konsantre olarak, 100 ppme kadar ulaşabilir ve potansiyel bir yan ürün haline gelebilir. Bu çalışmada, Batı Anadoludaki Çaldağ lateritik Ni-Co yatağının iki farklı ocağındaki ayrışmamış ana kayaçlarda ve çeşitli laterit zonlarında Sc dağılımı incelenmiştir. Hematit ocağında, serpantinit protolit ortalama 10,3 ppm Sc içeriği gösterirken, orta-üst limonit zonunda 66 ppme kadar ulaşan önemli bir zenginleşme görülmektedir. Bu serpantinit protolitine kıyasla altı katlık bir artışı temsil etmesine ragmen, maksimum Sc konsantrasyonları 53,6-65,7 ppm yan ürün Sc potansiyeline sahip diğer nikel lateritlere 100 ppm kıyasla nispeten düşüktür. Bu düşük konsantrasyon, serpantinleşmiş peridotit protolitin başlangıçtaki düşük Sc içeriğine ve lateritleşme sonrası tektonik aktiviteye bağlanmaktadır. Buna karşılık, Güney ocağında protolitte daha yüksek başlangıç Sc içeriği 13 ppm, ancak limonit zonunda daha düşük ortalama Sc içeriği 6,4 ppm sergilenmektedir; bunun nedeni muhtemelen Sc barındıran minerallerin yüksek oranda deforme olmuş ocak içindeki alterasyon ve ikincil bozuşma süreçleri tarafından lateritleşme sonrası çözünmesidir. Bulgular, Çaldağ yatağının limonit zonlarında 66 ppme kadar Sc konsantrasyonları sergilemesine rağmen, Ni üretiminin yanı sıra bir yan ürün olarak Sc potansiyelinin sınırlı olduğunu göstermektedir. Çaldağ yatağındaki ve Türkiyedeki diğer lateritik yataklardaki Sc dağılım mekanizmalarının daha iyi anlaşılabilmesi için daha detaylı mineralojik ve jeokimyasal araştırmalar yapılması önerilmektedir.

Article Details

Preliminary study of scandium enrichment in Çaldağ-Manisa lateritic Ni-Co Deposit, Western Anatolia

Authors:

Nilay Gülyüz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Genel Jeoloji | Maden Yatakları ve Jeokimya | Mineraloji-Petrografi

Journal:

Yerbilimleri Vol.45 Issue 3, pp.185-206

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338070

pISSN:

1301-2894

Critical metals

lateritic weathering

nickel laterites

scandium

serpentiniteKritik metaller

lateritik bozuşma

nikel lateritler

serpantinit

skandiyum

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Nilay Gülyüz

Publisher: Hacettepe University

Main Topics: Genel Jeoloji | Maden Yatakları ve Jeokimya | Mineraloji-Petrografi

Journal: Yerbilimleri Vol.45 Issue 3, pp.185-206

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001338070

pISSN: 1301-2894

Issues

Authors:

Nilay Gülyüz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Genel Jeoloji | Maden Yatakları ve Jeokimya | Mineraloji-Petrografi

Journal:

Yerbilimleri Vol.45 Issue 3, pp.185-206

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338070

pISSN:

1301-2894