Geological and economic criteria on the existence of scandium in the lateritic deposits of Moa, Cuba

Authors

  • Alain Carballo-Peña ISMMM
  • José Nicolás Muñoz-Gómez ISMM
  • Gerardo Antonio Orozco-Melgar ISMM
  • Arturo Luis Rojas-Purón ISMM

Keywords:

scandium, lateritic ore, nickel and cobalt deposits, Moa.

Abstract

ICP-MS analyses have revealed the existence of scandium in the lateritic nickel and cobalt ores of the Moa region (Cuba). This article reviews the available information about this element and geological and economic criteria are offered about the contents of scandium in the ores of Camarioca East, Yagrumaje North and Yagrumaje South lateritic deposits and in the tailings of the metallurgical plants of the region. The distribution of scandium mineralization in the lateritic profile predominates in the limonitic horizon, where goethite, gibbsite and hematite appear. The reported values of the average contents of scandium show economic potential for developing geological exploration projects that consider the extraction of metal as a byproduct of nickel and cobalt production in Moa, using acid leaching technology under pressure.

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Author Biography

Alain Carballo-Peña, ISMMM

Profesor Titular del Departamento de Geología, del Instituto Superior Minero - Metalúrgico de Moa. Miembro del Tribunal de Categorías Docentes para Profesor Auxiliar y Profesor Titular en las Especialidades de Geología y Minería. Miembro de la Comisión Nacional de la Carrera de Ingeniería Geológica.

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Published

2018-10-03

How to Cite

Carballo-Peña, A., Muñoz-Gómez, J. N., Orozco-Melgar, G. A., & Rojas-Purón, A. L. (2018). Geological and economic criteria on the existence of scandium in the lateritic deposits of Moa, Cuba. Minería & Geología, 34(4), 371–383. Retrieved from https://revista.ismm.edu.cu/index.php/revistamg/article/view/art1_No4_2018

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 4 (2018): Octubre-Diciembre

Section

Geología
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