Abstract
A mineralogical study of manganese minerals in the Lasbela area reveals that the minerals are associated with pillow basalt of Bela Ophiolite emplaced in the Paleocene— Lower Eocene. Parageneses of these manganese minerals are described in terms of main, associated, and accessory minerals in order to illustrate possible geological conditions for the formation of the manganese minerals. X-ray studies reveal that braunite, pyrolusite, romanechite, and manganite occur as main minerals which are also present as associated minerals in a few localities. Lithiophorite appears as most abundant associated and accessory mineral in most locations. A geochemical relationship between manganese and lithium is also presented to demonstrate the incorporation of Li in various manganese minerals. Ni, Cu, Zn, and Co show variable concentrations in different samples, indicating variable physico-chemical environments at the time of mineralization. Major and trace elements of the manganese deposits suggest that these deposits are related to Mid-Ocean Ridge and are of hydrothermal origin.
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Naseem, S., Sheikh, S.A. & Mallick, K.A. Lithiophorite and associated manganese mineralization in Lasbela area, Balochistan, Pakistan. Geosci J 1, 10–15 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910445
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910445