Hyen-Goo Cho

Mineralogy of Garnierite from New Caledonian Ni Lateritic Ore

Mineralogical characteristics of garnierite ores from the Nakety, Kouaoua, and Ouaco Ni laterite deposits in New Caledonia are investigated using optical microscopy, powder X-ray diffractometer, and electron proble microanalyzer. Green garnierite ores have colloform, cellular, and boxwork texture, which are formed by precipitation under low temperature surface environment. They are mainly composed of Ni-bearing talc~willemseite series mineral and partly of lizardite. In Ni-bearing talc~willemseite series mineral, NiO contents are Ouaco (average 40.63%), Nakety (average 28.58%), and Kouaoua (average 24.90%), in descending order. Ni atomic percentage replacing Mg in octahedral site are 43.5~85.0%. Dark brown garnierite ores show cellular or boxwork texture, and consist of lizardite~Ni lizardite with some Ni-bearing talc~willemseite series mineral. Ni contents in lizardite~Ni lizardite are 1.14~4.06 wt. % and Ni atomic percentage replacing Mg in octahedral site 1.7~6.8%. Low NiO content in dark brown garnierite attributes to high Fe content replacing Mg in octahedral site.

Clay mineral distribution and provenance in surface sediments of Central Yellow Sea Mud

The provenance of the Central Yellow Sea Mud (CYSM) in the Yellow Sea has been attracted a great deal of attention over the last three decades, but a consensus is not yet reached. In this study, 101 surface sediment samples collected from the CYSM were investigated to determine provenance and transport mechanisms in the area using the clay minerals and major element components. The Huanghe sediments are characterized by higher smectite, but the Changjiang sediments are more abundant illite contents. Western Korean rivers contain more kaolinite and chlorite than do Chinese rivers. The Chinese rivers have higher Fe2O3, MgO, and CaO than the Korean rivers at the same Al2O3 concentration. Therefore, the clay minerals and major element concentrations can be useful indicator for the source. Based on our results, we suggest that the surface sediments in CYSM were composed mainly of Changjiang sediments, mixed a partly with sediments from the Huanghe and the western Korean rivers. Although the northwestern part of CYSM is proximate to the Huanghe, the contents of smectite and CaO were extremely low. It could be evidence that the Huanghe materials do not enter directly into the CYSM due to the Shandong Peninsula Front. Considering the oceanic circulation in the Yellow Sea, the Changjiang sediments could be transported eastward with the Changjiang Diluted Water and then mixed in CYSM via the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC). Huanghe sediments could be provided by coastal currents (Shandong Coastal Current and Yellow Sea Coastal Current) and the YSWC. In addition, sediments from western Korean rivers might be supplied into the CYSM deposit via the Korean Coastal Current, Transversal Current, and YSWC.