TITLE:
Hematization of Quartz Grains: Study of the Surface of Quartz Grains (M.E.B) and Semi-Quantitative Mineralization
AUTHORS:
Chia Marie Reine Kokoa, Touvalé Marcel Kesse, Fory Yao Paul Assale, Sougo Aoua Coulibaly, Kouadio Affian
KEYWORDS:
Quartz, Exoscopy, Semi-Quantitative Mineralogy, Adiaké, Ivory Coast
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.11,
November
24,
2023
ABSTRACT: Interest in the Côte d’Ivoire sedimentary basin has led to numerous
investigations. All these investigations are aimed at understanding the
functioning of the basin and a paleogeographic approach including sediment
transport dynamics. However, the use of exoscopy and semi-quantitative
mineralogy has been little developed. This study was carried out to compensate
for this lack of interest in these methods. Its aim is to understand the
transformation of quartz into hematite using exoscopy and semi-quantitative
mineralogy in the Adiaké locality, in the eastern onshore basin of Côte
d’Ivoire. Two methods were applied to 250 μm-diameter quartz grains from the 40 m
coasts. Exoscopy provides information on microscopic texture, surface and
corrosion, as well as determining the transport mechanism and deposition phases
of quartz grains. Semi-quantitative mineralogy provides an estimate of the
weight percentages of major element oxides and the ultrastructure of quartz
grains. Exoscopy showed that these grains had been subjected to torrential
fluvial transport. They were marked by mechanical and chemical traces during
this transport and evolved in different environments. Semi-quantitative
mineralogy shows the existence of negative and positive correlations between
oxides. Negative correlations indicate a substitution, in order of importance,
of silicon by iron, phosphorus and aluminum in these quartz. Positive
correlations show that there is no substitution between the oxides concerned in
these quartz grains. Divo’s quartz grains have recorded several mechanical and
chemical microstructures of their sedimentary episodes, with the appearance of
iron nodules in the ports left by silica.