Differential alteration of ilmenite in a tropical beach placer, southern India: Microscopic and electron probe evidences

Abstract

The study based on microscopic and microprobe techniques reveals that ilmenite of Manavalakurichi deposit has generally reached the alteration phase of 'leached ilmenite'. The XRD and bulk chemical analysis confirm the limited alteration undergone by ilmenite grains. Ilmenite alteration has been found to be a process of continuous leaching of iron from the mineral lattice and hydroxylisation. The enrichment of trace elements with progressive alteration is discussed. Si and Al are enriched by more than 100 fold. The prevalence of reducing environment at present in the deposit indicates that the oxidation of ferrous iron leading to pseudorutile formation would have occurred during transportation of sediments.