Mn-oxides from Serra da Mina deposit: mineralogy and paragenetic sequence of crystallization

Abstract

Chemical equilibria and the relative stability of Fe-Mn phases are the main governing factors behind themineralogical characteristics and elemental distribution of iron and manganese in supergene enrichment deposits. In the present work, we focus on the textural, mineralogical and chemical investigation of mineral associations, typical of the enriched zone of the vein-hosted Fe-Mn deposit of Serra da Mina, SW Portugal, by means of microRaman spectroscopy and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). The coupling of such methods enabled both the identification of the main mineralogical components and their corresponding paragenetic sequence of crystallization.