Geochemical characteristics of Triassic and Cretaceous phosphorite horizons from the Transdanubian Mountain Range (western Hungary): genetic implications

Abstract

The carbonate-dominated Mesozoic sequence of the Transdanubian Mountain Range contains Triassic, uranium-enriched phosphorite layers and Cretaceous, REE-enriched nodular phosphorite. Detailed investigation of these deposits may have an economic benefit because of their large U and REE contents. The dominant minerals in the Triassic phosphorite are carbonate-bearing fluorapatite (CFA) and calcite. According to the electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) the U is mainly associated with the CFA crystals. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) measurement shows that CFA contains 137–612 ppm U and 113–261 ppm total REE + Y. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age of the uppermost phosphorite horizon is 237 ± 11 Ma, which conforms with the stratigraphic age of the host limestone.The Cretaceous nodular phosphorite occurs on the base of an Aptian crinoid-bearing limestone mostly in the form of encrustations around bio- and silicic-clasts, but the clasts also contain phosphorite. The main minerals in these crusts are CFA, calcite, quartz, glauconite and Fe-oxide-hydroxides. Based on EPMA the REE enrichment is related to CFA and LA-ICP-MS measurements show that it contains 748–2953 ppm total REE + Y.The redox-sensitive proxies and the shape of NASC normalized REE patterns indicate that both phosphorites formed in anoxic environments. There are significant differences between these deposits such as appearance, rock-forming minerals, and U and REE contents which indicate differences in their sedimentary environments. The present results suggest that the Triassic phosphorite was formed by inorganic precipitation in a reducing environment close to sea-mounts. The Cretaceous occurrence resulted from a concentric growth mechanism in cold, ascending seawater at the continental margin environment during the anoxic Selli Event (OAE 1a) and/or Paquier Episode (OAE 1b). The critical raw material contents were derived from other sources.

Epigenetic-Hydrothermal Fluorite Veins in a Phosphorite Deposit from Balaton Highland (Pannonian Basin, Hungary): Signatures of a Regional Fluid Flow System in an Alpine Triassic Platform

“…The brownish-grey U-bearing phosphorite layers in the sedimentary sequence of the Öreg Hill appear in three horizons [2] in a less than 1 km 2 area. The lowermost and thickest (max.…”

“…The detailed mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the phosphorite layers are presented in [2]. The dominant mineral assemblage in the phosphoritic layers consists of carbonate-bearing fluorapatite (CFA) and calcite, but hematite, pyrite, and zircon are also present rarely.…”

“…The present study focuses on a previously known uranium-bearing phosphorite occurrence at Pécsely village [1,2], which is located in the Balaton Highland area, in western Hungary. This mineral occurrence is located in the Northern Transdanubium Unit, which is an allochthonous unit originated from the Southern Alps [3][4][5].…”

Critical-metal mineralogy and ore genesis: contributions from the European Mineralogical Conference held in Rimini, September 2016

“…The type material is from the Malmkärra mine, but it also occurs in the Johanna and Nya Bastnäs mines and could represent a significant sink for Nd. Molnár et al (2018) examine the 'Geochemical characteristics of Triassic and Cretaceous phosphorite horizons from the Transdanubian Mountain Range (western Hungary): genetic implications'. Uranium and REE enrichment in Triassic phosphorite horizons is hosted by carbonate-bearing fluorapatite containing 137-612 ppm U and 113-261 ppm total REE+Y.…”

“…The type material is from the Malmkärra mine, but it also occurs in the Johanna and Nya Bastnäs mines and could represent a significant sink for Nd. Molnár et al (2018)…”