Posušje bauxites in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A source of critical raw materials and a paleoclimatic marker
Abstract
The present study provides geochemical and geochronological data about Posušje bauxites in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the aim to characterize them as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) sources and to put constraints on the time and genesis of the deposit. Boehmite is the bauxites’ main Al-bearing mineral, while gibbsite is a minor constituent. Hematite is the dominant Fe-phase, whereas goethite is rare. The chemical analyses indicate that the Al₂O₃ content ranges from 49.6 to 63.0 wt %, Fe₂O₃ varies from 16.5 to 33.7 wt % and the SiO₂ content is usually <0.5 wt %. TiO₂ content ranges between 2.6 and 3.2 wt %. Typical trace elements are V (353–787 ppm), Cr (498–1055 ppm), Zr (382–558 ppm), Sc (42–72 ppm), and Ga (40–47 ppm). The sum of REEs is 357–1112 ppm. The U-Pb zircon dating indicates an age of Posušje bauxite formation at 56.6±0.5 Ma. This age closely aligns with the global climatic event that occurred approximately 56 Ma ago, called Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Show more
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Journal / series
Review of the Bulgarian Geological SocietyVolume
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Publisher
Bulgarian Geological SocietySubject
bauxite; Posušje; geochemistry; U-Pb zircon dating; Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximumMore
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