Chromite Deposits

CHROMITE DEPOSITS
(Magmatic deposits)
M.Naveed Anjum
BSc (Hons), MSc ,MPhil ,
Department of Geology , University of Peshawar
CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Physical Properties
• Classification
1. Primary
Stratiform Deposits
Podiform Deposits
• Uses
• Occurrence in Pakistan
• Exploratory Guides
Introduction
Magmatic Deposits:
Ore deposits formed by segregation during
the crystallization of magma.
Major Ores:
Chromium,Copper,Nickle,PGE,and Vanadium ores.
Association:
Associated with Mafic and Ultramafic lithologies as
chromitite layers.
Major Ore Minerals:
Pentalandite,Pyrrhotite,Pyrite,Chalcopyrite,Chromite and
venadeferous magnetite.
Gangue Minerals:
Olv,Serpentine,Plg,Ortho and Clinopxn in the
chromite.
Bye-Product Minerals:
Cobalt and Gold.
Physical Properties
 Spinal Group Member.
 General Formula for spinal group: A(B)2O4
 Chemical formula of Spinal Group: (Mg,Fe) (Cr,Al,Fe)2O4
 Chemical Formula of Chromite: (Mg,Fe)Cr2O4
 Classification of chromite based on chrome to iron ratio:
 Metallurgical (2.5:1); >45% Cr2O3
 Refractory (2.5:2)
 Chemical (1.6:1); 43-45% Cr2O3
• Color - brownish black to a deep dark black

• Luster - metallic to greasy
• Transparency - crystals are opaque
• Cleavage - absent
• Fracture - conchoidal
• Hardness - 5.5
• Specific Gravity - 4.5 - 4.8 (average for metallic minerals)
• Streak - brown
• Other characteristics - weakly magnetic and an octahedral parting is sometimes seen
• Associated Minerals - include olivine, talc, serpentine, uvarovite, pyroxenes, biotite,
Classification
On the basis of shape/form and others age and host rocks,
compositional diff.chromite deposits are sub-divided into two types.
 Stratiforms ores(Layered Type):
• Association:
• Mafic and Ultamafic layered intrusions like…...
• Age:
• Pre- Cambrian .
• Tectonic setting:
• Intra- cratonic settings.
• Have less cr/fe ratio than podiform deposits.
• Distribution:
• Well Known in America, Europe, India and South Africa.
• Form:
• These are in the form of layeres /sills.
• Mineralogy:
• Chromite occurs mainly as layeres of chromitite, ranges
from 1cm to more than 1m thickness.Chromitite consists of 50-90% of
chromite with interstitial olv,Opxn,Plg and Cpxn.
II) Podiform Chromite
Also called as Alpine type deposits.
Association:
Associated with Ophiolites. What are ophiolites?
Age:
Phenarozoic age( compared with precambrian layered
chromite) .
Form:
Tabular Lenses or pods-like or irregular pencils form.
Distribution:
USSR, Albania,Phillppine,Turkey and India, Pakistan.
Mineralogy :
Chromite is mainly associated with olivine.PGE
present but not up to that extent. May also be source of copper
and magnesite.
Residual Deposits
Occurs in laterite & alluvial/beach placer sands
Laterites are ferruginous soils derived from the chemical
weathering of ultramafic rocks and their sedimentary
differentiates
The chromium content in laterites varies and reaches its
maximum value in the lowermost layer.
Generally, a high-grade chromite ore body can produce lateritic
soil and sands with appreciable chromite concentration and
heavy mineral differentiates.
Secondary chromite deposits occur as blankets over the
weathered ore bodies.
Needed to be revised
 Occur within the ultramafic portions of ophiolite complexes (especifically within
the peridotites).
 Relatively small in size, occurs as pods, lenses, pipes.
 Irregular concordant to disconcordant chromite-rich bodies in tectonically
emplaces peridotites complexes
 Three zones of podiform chromite mineralization:
 Zone 1 in harzburgite = chromite bodies represent accumulation of unmelted
refractory residue after partial melting of the upper mantle materials (Hawkins
and Evans, 1983) or trapped early precipitates from partial melts ascending
through magma conduits within the harzburgites through melt focusing (Lago
et.al., 1982; Nicolas, 1989).
 Zone 2 in upper level dunite = chromite and dunite bodies are believed to be
of residual mantle materials (Violette, 1981; Hawkins and Evans) and partly of
cumulate (fractional crystallization and segregation) derivation (Evans, 1983).
 Zone 3 in interlayered dunite & wehrlite = characterized by concordant to
subconcordant chromite bands or lenses occurring within a 100 - 500 meters
interlayered dunite-wehrlite sequence
Genesis
Layered. Crystallization differentiation in intra-cratonic environment.

Gravity settling
Alpine: Forming at MOR and Then obduction onto continental crust
Gravity settling and fractional crystallization
How Does Chromite Form
These diagrams are the result of
experiments that duplicate the
natural process
This shows how the main silicate
minerals, olivine and pyroxene,
along with chromite, crystallize
from a high temperature melt, as
follows:
The melt was introduced into a
magma chamber as a liquid, 4-
6km below the earth's surface
Minerals began to crystallize at
Point A
As it cooled, it reached Point
B, the boundary where both
olivine and chromite crystallize
If the melt is not changed in
composition, it continues to cool,
precipitating olivine and
chromite along the line until it
reaches point C.
At C, it begins to precipitate
pyroxene, and much less
chromite.
No massive chromite
layers formed!!
How Are the Massive Chromite Layers Formed
 As olivine and chromite precipitate
together, from B to E, chromite only
forms about 1% of the rock, and isn’t
recoverable
 At point E, the melt becomes
contaminated, because some of the
roof to the magma chamber drops into
it
 This contaminant should be silica
(quartz) – rich, with a low melting
temperature
 Contamination causes the melt to
shift composition to point H in the
“chromite-only” precipitation zone
 Until all of this contaminate is used up
(from points H to G), only chromite
precipitates, and settle to the bottom
of the partially-filled magma chamber,
forming a massive chromite layer
 Once the melt cools and reaches the
co-precipitation line, chromite is then
‘diluted’ by olivine, and eventually
(points C and D) pyroxene, to make
dunite and peridotite.
World chromite production
South Africa, India and Kazakhstan = 78%
Brazil, Finland, Russia, Zimbabwe and Turkey =12%
Canada poised to be the next major producer
World Resources
Total (non 43-101 compliant)
resource estimates (USGS)
South Africa: 2,910 mt
Kazakhstan: 1,110mt
India: 1,090 mt
Russia: 291mt
Zimbabwe: 215 mt
Turkey: 208 mt
Brazil: 190 mt
Finland; 174 mt
Oman: 102 mt
These are the major suppliers of chrome ore today.
Uses
 Chromite is the only ore of chromium, a metal used to induce hardness, toughness
and chemical resistance in steel. The alloy produced is known as "stainless steel".
 When alloyed with iron and nickel it produces an alloy known as "nichrome“ which
is resistant to high temperatures and used to make heating units, ovens and other
appliances.
 Thin coatings of chromium alloys are used as platings on auto parts, appliances and
other products and given the name "chrome plated".
• A number of chromium compounds obtained by the chemical treatment of chromite
have great importance uses in industry.
a. Sodium dichromate – metal treatment processing; glass etching, bright dipping of
brass to control the rates of solution of oxygen and zinc in brass and acid cleaning of
aluminum and magnesium
b. Acid cupric chromate – timber preservative, for preventing corrosion in air
conditioning plants
c. Potassium and sodium dichromates – used as corrosion inhibitor in fuel tanks of
naval aircraft and boilers, cooling towers and automobile engines.
d. Chrome green – used in protective paints because of its great stability and
permanence.
e. Lead chromate – gives lemon to orange color
f. Zinc chromate – gives yellow pigment
Occurrence In Pakistan
Chillas Complex:( District Bishaam, KPK)
 Layered chromite deposits.
 Ultramafic complex; 300 km long and 40 km wide.
 Associated minerals/Rocks; Dunite, Anorthosite etc.
 Needs to be study in detail.
 Dargai, heroshah, motoshah, barang, targao(Kot-Pranghar
complex, Dargai ophiolitic melange complex):
 Associated with: Peridotite, Dunite, Pyroxenite, Garnet.
 Present along MMT.
Ophiolitic Thrust Belt of Waziristan.
Baluchistan Ophiolitic Belt.
Bela and Zhob Districts
Exploratory Guides
The techniques or guides which are used to explore
/separate/identify rocks or minerals are called exploratory guides.
Geological Guides:
For Stratiform Deposits:
Ultramafic –mafic cummulates.
Zones close to ultramafic rocks(Peridotite- Dunite).
Mapping on scale of 1:10,000 or 1:5000.
Normal scale in Pakistan is 1:50,000 GSP.
Once a layer or a group of layer is formed then traced for kms
Alpine Deposits:
Ophiolitic complexes.
Close to Dunite ie more ultramafic lithologies.
Subduction zones/collisional boundaries.
Sharp changes in depth and strike foliations of rocks close to
chromite bands.
Exploratory Guides
Detail Geo-mapping and Drilling at selective sites.
Geophysical Exploration:
The technique which shows physical properties like density ,
magnetism, resistivity, conductivity and radioactivity are used to
explore/separate/identify rock and minerals/petroleum/coal inside
the earth.
Resistivity meter.
Magnetometer.
Gravity meter.
Seismometer
Use of Geo-chemical analysis.
Residual chromite
Occurs in laterite & alluvial/beach placer sands
Laterites are ferruginous soils derived from the chemical
weathering of ultramafic rocks and their sedimentary
differentiates
The chromium content in laterites varies and reaches its
maximum value in the lowermost layer.
Generally, a high-grade chromite ore body can produce
lateritic soil and sands with appreciable chromite
concentration and heavy mineral differentiates.
Secondary chromite deposits occur as blankets over the
weathered ore bodies.

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CHROMITE DEPOSITS

• Color - brownish black to a deep dark black

Layered. Crystallization differentiation in intra-cratonic environment.

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