Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

3D modeling for mineral resource assessment of fluorite ore and its industrial application in Jbel Tirremi, northeast Morocco

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modeling Earth Systems and Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

3D modeling was undertaken to establish the morphology, volume, and spatial distribution of the fluorite orebody, and ore grade of Jbel Tirremi located in northeastern Morocco. The ore is hosted in the intensely fractured Jurassic carbonates. The mineralization is structurally controlled because it is primarily hosted in N–S- and NNW–SSE-trending faults/fractures. Using Surpac software, the study of all boreholes was carried out to generate physical 3D and block models of the orebody and to estimate the fluorite resource and grade of the Jbel Tirremi. The total CaF2 resource is 4.77 Mt with average grade of 28.0% CaF2 was estimated based on geostatistical analysis (kriging). The analysis of the spatial distribution of ore and grades and the geotechnical study show that the open-pit mining would maximize the exploitation of the mine. The geochemical data revealed that the fluorite mineralization is of high quality, with good grades reaching up 97.5% of CaF2 and very low concentrations of impurities. The wide range of grades of the Tirremi fluorspar determines the feasibility of the mining project and allows for its use in various industrial applications. Flotation method would be the best ore extraction method that maximizes the recovery of ore and remove the impurities. Based on the data of this study, the Tirremi ore deposit will be one of Morocco’s most important fluorite producers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

References

  • Abzalov M (2016) Applied mining geology, vol 12. Springer, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Agard J, Termier H, Termier G (1950) la serie jurassique du jebel tirremi et de ses abords, pres de taourirt (maroc oriental). comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l academie des sciences 231(25):1515–1516 (in French)

  • Agard J, Morin P (1951) Les gisements de fluorine du Maroc. Notes Serv Géol Maroc 4(83):189 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Alber M, Yaralı O, Dahl F, Bruland A, Käsling H, Michalakopoulos TN, Cardu M, Hagan P, Aydın H, Özarslan A (2013) ISRM suggested method for determining the abrasivity of rock by the CERCHAR abrasivity test. In: The ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 2007–2014. Springer, Cham, pp 101–106

  • Allen RD (1952) Variations in chemical and physical properties of fluorite. Am Min 37:910–930

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (1992) Standard test method for slake durability of shales and similar weak rocks, D 4644-87. American Society for Testing and Materials

  • Attewell PB, Farmer IW (1976) Principles of engineering geology, vol 1045. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey AD, Hunt RP, Taylor KNR (1974) An E.S.R. study of natural fluorite containing manganese impurities. Mineral Mag 39:705–708

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Lien R, Lunde J (1974) Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech 6(4):189–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications: a complete manual for engineers and geologists in mining, civil, and petroleum engineering. Wiley, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bill H, Calas G (1978) Color centers, associated rare-earth ions and the origin of coloration in natural fluorites. Physics Chem Miner 3(2):117–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bill H, Sierro J, Lacroix R (1967) Origin of coloration in some fluorites. Amer Mineralog 52:1003–1008

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouabdellah M, Castorina F, Bodnar RJ, Banks D, Jébrak M, Prochaska W, Lowry D, Klügel AJ, Hoernle K (2013) Petroleum migration, fluid mixing, and halokinesis as the main ore forming processes at the peridiapiric Jbel Tirremi fluorite-barite hydrothermal deposit, northeastern Morocco. Econ Geol 109(5):1223–1256

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite RSW, Flowers WT, Haszeldine RN, Russell M (1973) The cause of the colour of Blue John and other purple fluorites. Miner Mag 39(304):401–411. https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.1973.039.304.03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calas G (1995) Etude de la coloration bleu de quelques fluorites naturelles. Bull Soc Franc Mineralog Cristallogr 95:470–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Caumon G, Collon-Drouaillet P, Le Carlier D, Viseur S, Sausse J (2009) Surface based 3D modeling of geological structures. Math Geosci 41:927–929

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen AB, Qin DX, Zhang XS, Jia G, Tan S, Fan Z (2004) The application of deposit 3D model based on micromine. Geol Prospect 30(3):77–80

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Andrea DV, Fischer RL, Fogelson DE (1964) US department of the interior, bureau of mines. Rep Invest 6702:1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Deere DU, Deere DW (1989) Rock quality designation (RQD) after twenty years. US Army Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg. Report GL, pp 1–89

  • Deng H, Zheng Y, Chen J, Yu S, Xiao K, Mao X (2022) Learning 3D mineral prospectivity from 3D geological models using convolutional neural networks: application to a structure-controlled hydrothermal gold deposit. Comput Geosci 161:105074

    Google Scholar 

  • Dill HG, Weber B (2010) Variation of color, structure, and morphology of fluorite and the origin of the hydrothermal F-Ba deposits at Nabburg-Wölsendorf, SE Germany. Neues Jb Miner Abh 187(2):113

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery X (2005) Simple and ordinary kriging, multi-Gaussian kriging for estimating recoverable reserves. Math Geol 37:295–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallara F, Legault M, Rabeau O (2006) 3-D integrated geological modeling in the Abitibi subprovince (Québec, Canada): techniques and applications. Explor Mining Geol 15(2):27–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Féraud J (2008) La Fluorine Géochronique. n°106. (cf. aussi le dossier du n°107 sur la fluorine de l’opéra Garnier), pp 14–43 (in French)

  • Gao Z, Gao Y, Zhu Y, Hu Y, Sun W (2016) Selective flotation of calcite from fluorite: a novel reagent schedule. Minerals 6:114–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Z, Wang C, Sun W, Gao Y, Kowalczuk PB (2021) Froth flotation of fluorite: a review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 290:102–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Giret P (1985). Histoire paléogéographique, pétrologique et structural du district à fluorine de Taourirt (Maroc Oriental). Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Orléans, France, p 191 (in French)

  • Gong JY, Cheng PG, Wang YD (2004) Three-dimensional modeling and application in geological exploration engineering. Comput Geosci 30(4):391–404

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Partida E, Carrillo-Chávez A, Grimmer JOW, Pironon J, Mutterer J, Levresse G (2003) Fluorite deposit Encantada-Buenavista, Mexico: products of Mississippi valley type processes. Ore Geol Rev 23:107–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman RE (1989) Introduction to rock mechanics. Wiley, New York, pp 221–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Wang J, Wu L, Zhu W, Jessell M, Li C, Li F, Hu H (2022) Automatic and dynamic updating of three-dimensional ore body models from borehole and excavation data using the implicit function HRBF. Ore Geol Rev 148:105018

    Google Scholar 

  • Hormozi H, Hormozi E, Rahiminohoogi N (2012) The classification of the applicable machine-learning methods in robot manipulators. Int J Mach Learn Comput 2(5):560–563

    Google Scholar 

  • Houldin S (2000) Practical geostatistics: modeling and spatial analysis. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO 14689-1 (E) (2012) Geotechnical investigation and testing. Identification and classification of rock

  • Jin X, Wang GW, Tang P, Hu CM, Liu YW, Zhang SK (2020) 3D geological modelling and uncertainty analysis for 3D targeting in Shanggong gold deposit (China). J Geochem Explor 210:106442

    Google Scholar 

  • JORC (2012) Australasian code for reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves (The JORC Code); Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC): Carlton South, Australia

  • Kaufmann O, Martin T (2008) 3D geological modelling from boreholes, cross-sections, and geological maps, application over former natural gas storages in coal mines. Comput Geosci 34(3):278–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempe U, Trinkler M, Brachmann A (1994) Brauner Fluorit aus Sn-W-Lagerstätten – Chemismus und Farbursachen. Ber Dt Mineralog Ges 137(1) (in Germany)

  • Kesler SE (1977) Geochemistry of manto fluorite deposits, northern Coahuila. Mexico Econ Geol 72(2):204–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitanidis PK (1997) Introduction to geostatistics: applications in hydrogeology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalczuk PB, Zawala JA (2016) Relationship between time of three-phase contact formation and flotation kinetics of naturally hydrophobic solids. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 506:371–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Laubscher DH (1990) A geomechanics classification system for the rating of rock mass in mine design. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 90(10):257–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Laville E, Delcaillau B, Charroud M, Dugué O, Ait Brahim L, Cattaneo G, Deluca P, Bouazza A (2007) The Plio-Pleistocene evolution of the Southern Middle Atlas fault zone (SMAFZ) front of Morocco. Int J Earth Sci 96:497–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefohn AS, Knudsen HP (2010) Using ordinary kriging to estimate the April–September 24-hour W126 and N100 ozone exposure metrics for 2010 for the United States

  • Lemon AM, Jones NL (2003) Building solid models from boreholes and user-defined cross-sections. Comput Geosci 29(3):547–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Li X, Yuan F, Jowitt SM, Zhang M, Zhou J, Zhou T, Li X, Ge C, Wu B (2020) Convolutional neural network and transfer learning based mineral prospectivity modeling for geochemical exploration of Au mineralization within the Guandian-Zhangbaling area, Anhui Province, China. Appl Geochem 122:104747

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo ZQ, Xiao-ming L, Jia-hong S, Ya-bin W, Wang-ping L (2007) Deposit 3D modeling and application. J Cent South Univ Technol 14(2):225–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie KJD, Green JM (1971) The cause of coloration in Derbyshire Blue John banded fluorite and other blue banded fluorites. Mineralog Mag 38:459–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Martini JE (1976) The fluorite deposits in the dolomite series of the Marico district, Transvaal, South Africa. Econ Geol 71(3):625–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Masoudi SM, Ezzati E, Rashidnejad-Omran N, Moradzadeh A (2017) Geoeconomics of fluorspar as strategic and critical mineral in Iran. Resour Policy 52:100–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazdoor K, Shakti S (1993) Indian standard: acid grade fluorspar for the chemical industry (CHD 1: Inorganic Chemicals) 2:1–19

  • Moussa K (1999) Les minéralisations de fluorine du district de Taourirt: cadre géologique et étude des incluions fluides (Maroc Nord Oriental). Thèse de 3ème cycle, Université de Tunis, Tunisie (in French)

  • Nan G (2001) Orebody string model and its modeling methods. Nonferrous Mine 30(5):1–4 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norbury D (2005) Encyclopedia of geology. Elsevier, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuhaus A, Recker R, Leckebusch R (1967) Beitrag zum Farb- und Lumineszenzproblem des Fluorits. ZDt Ges f Edelsteinkunde 61:89–102 ((in Germany))

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogola JS, Behr HJ, Van den Kerkhof AM (1994) Fluid inclusion and cathodoluminescence studies on fluorite from the Kerio valley, Kenya. J African Earth Sci 18(4):309–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer DA, Williams-Jones AE (1996) Genesis of the carbonatite-hosted fluorite deposit at Amba Dongar, India; evidence from fluid inclusions, stability isotopes, and whole rock-mineral geochemistry. Econ Geol 91(5):934–950

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan M, Fang Y, Qu HG (2007) Discussion on several foundational issues in three-dimensional geological modeling. Geogr Inf Sci 23(3):1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Przibaum K (1953) Colour bands in fluorspar. Nature 172(4384):860–861. https://doi.org/10.1038/172860b0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pouliot J, Bedard K, Kirkwood D, Lachance B (2008) Reasoning about geological space: coupling 3D GeoModels and topological queries as an aid to spatial data selection. Comput Geosci 34:529–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahbazi B, Rezai B, Koleini SJ (2010) Bubble–particle collision and attachment probability on fine particles flotation. Chem Eng Process 49(6):622–627

    Google Scholar 

  • Shawe DR, John HS (1976) Ore deposits as related to tectonics and magmatism. Nevada Utah Trans Am Inst Min Metall Pet Eng 260:225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Song S, Lopez-Valdivieso A, Martinez-Martinez C, Torres-Armenta R (2006) Improving fluorite flotation from ores by dispersion processing. Miner Eng 19:912–917

    Google Scholar 

  • Summaries MC (2021) Mineral commodity summaries. US Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA, p 200

  • Sun HQ (1990) Geostatistics and its application. China University of Mining and Technology Press, Xuzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Tahmasebi P, Hezarkhani A (2010) Application of adaptive neuro-fuzzy interference system for grade estimation—case study, Sarcheshmesh porphyry copper deposit, Kerman. Iran Aust J Basic Appl 4(3):408–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Torbi A (1997) Déformations cassantes et paléo-champs de contrainte enregistres dans les terrais méso-cénozoïque du Maroc Nord-Oriental. Thèse Doctorat des Sciences, Université Mohammed 1 Oujda. Maroc (in French)

  • Trinkler M, Monecke T, Thomas R (2005) Constraints on the genesis of yellow fluorite in hydrothermal barite–fluorite veins of the Erzgebirge, Eastern Germany: evidence from optical absorption spectroscopy, rare-earth-element data, and fluid inclusion investigations. Canad Mineralog 43(3):883–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Tutluoglu L, Karpuz C, Ozturk H, Guner D, Yardimci A G (2014) geotechnical considerations for mining method selection of a potential underground iron ore mine in Mideastern, Turkey. Mine Planning and Equipment Selection. Springer, Cham, pp 491–500

  • Van Alstine RE (1976) Continental rifts and lineaments associated with major fluorspar districts. Econ Geol 71:977–987

    Google Scholar 

  • Villalba G, Ayres RU, Schroder H (2007) Accounting for fluorine: production, use, and loss. J Ind Ecol 11(1):85–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Zhang S, Yan C (2009b) 3D geological modeling with multi-source data integration in the polymetallic region: a case study of Luanchuan, Henan Province, China. Earth Sci Front 16:166–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Wang X, Liu H, Yan T, Zhang B, Tian M, Yang D, Xiong Y (2022) 3D geochemical modeling of the Qujia gold deposit, China: implications for ore genesis and geochemical exploration of deep concealed ore bodies. Ore Geol Rev 144:104–819

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Du Y, Cui G (2009a) Mineral resource prediction based on 3D-GIS and BP network technology: a case of study in Pulang copper deposit, Yunnan Province, China. In: 5th international conference on natural computation (IEEE), Tianjin, China, pp 382–386

  • Wu Q, Hua XU (2003) An approach to computer modeling and visualization of geological faults in 3D. Comput Geosci 29(4):507–513

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Xu H (2004) Three-dimensional geological modeling and visualization method research. Sci China Ser 34(1):54–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao KY, Pirajno F, Xu Y, Zhang S, Sun L, Cong Y, Fan J, Yin J, Zhu Y, Wei H (2020) Study on the major minerals potential in China. Ore Geol Rev 127:103816

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao KY, Xiang J, Fan MJ, Xu Y (2021) 3D mineral prospectivity mapping based on deep metallogenic prediction theory: a case study of the lala copper mine, Sichuan. China J Earth Sci China 32(02):48–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao K (2009) Computer simulation of a three-dimensional geologic map and resource evaluation. In: The 9th national deposit congress, pp 742–743

  • Xu Y, Zhao J, Chen P (2003) 3D GIS modeling and visualization in geology and mining. Chin Min 12(4):60–62 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan F, Zhang MM, Li XH, Ge C, Lu SM, Li JS, Zhou YZ, Lan XY (2019) Prospectivity modeling: from two dimension to three-dimension. Acta Petrol Sin 35(12):3863–3874 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanchi A, Francescac S, Stefano Z, Simone S, Graziano G (2009) 3D reconstruction of complex geological bodies: examples from the Alps. Comput Geosci 35:49–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Gao Y, Chen W, Liu D (2017) The role of water glass in the flotation separation of fine fluorite from fine quartz. Minerals 2017:157–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Wu X, Liu X (2004) 3D stratum modeling based on borehole data. Geol Geoinf Sci 20(3):26–30 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zidarova B, Maleev M, Kostov I (1978) Crystal genesis and habit zonality of fluorite from the Mikhalkovo deposit, Central Rhodope Mountains. Geochem Min Petrol 8:3–26

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are due to Mr. Vikas Tondon, director of the company, who has been generous with his time by providing access to the company. We also express our gratitude to members of the company for providing access to all report data and for facilitating the acquisition of data in the field. We also would like to thank an anonymous reviewer for the comments that improve the quality of this manuscript. Our thanks also go to the executive editor in Chief, Dr. Nazul Islam, for handling this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géosciences, Géo-environnement et Prospection Minière et Hydrique, Faculté des Sciences, BP 717, 60000, Oujda, Morocco

    Mohammed Cherai & Fouad Talbi

  2. Earth and Planetary Science Division, Physical Science Department, Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY), 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11235-2398, USA

    Larbi Rddad

  3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    Emmanuel John M. Carranza

Authors
  1. Mohammed Cherai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Larbi Rddad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fouad Talbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emmanuel John M. Carranza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed Cherai.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cherai, M., Rddad, L., Talbi, F. et al. 3D modeling for mineral resource assessment of fluorite ore and its industrial application in Jbel Tirremi, northeast Morocco. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 9, 3135–3150 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-022-01684-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-022-01684-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation