A contribuição da lateritização na formação do Minério de ferro em S11D - Carajás

Abstract

The origin of the soft iron ore hosted in the jaspilites of the Carajás Formation is still subject of debate. In order to contribute to a better understanding of its origin, the SSDFD663 drill hole from the S11D iron mine in Carajás was investigated. Twenty samples were analyzed by XRD, optical microscopy, whole-rock chemistry and SEM/EDS. The profile comprises four weathering horizons, defined from the base to the top, such as protore, saprolite (coarse and fine), and crust. The main ore occurs distributed along the saprolite horizon, it is composed mainly of hematite, and subordinately by magnetite. The amount of quartz increases with the depth, while towards the top increases the amount of Fe-Al(Ti-P)-minerals. The total iron is enriched relatively in the fine saprolite in comparison to the protore (42.55 to 97.62 wt.% Fe2O3). Trace elements such as Zr, Cr, Y, and REE show relative enrichment upward since they usually occur in the presence of residual minerals (such as zircon and anatase). In addition, the REEs exhibit the geochemical signature of the jaspilites, which reaffirms their genetic relationship. A genetical laterite-supergene model is suggested for the origin of soft ore at the S11D deposit.