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Minerals

Minerals is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of natural mineral systems, mineral resources, mining, and mineral processing, and is published monthly online by MDPI.

Quartile Ranking JCR - Q2 (Mining and Mineral Processing | Mineralogy | Geochemistry and Geophysics)

All Articles (10,441)

The Hadamengou gold deposit, hosted in the Precambrian metamorphic basement, is a super-large gold deposit occurring along the northern margin of the North China Craton. Despite extensive investigation, the genesis of the gold mineralization is poorly understood and remains highly debated. This study integrates a comprehensive dataset, including fluid inclusion microthermometry and C-H-O-S-Pb isotopes, to better constrain the genesis and ore-forming mechanism of the deposit. Hydrothermal mineralization can be divided into pyrite–potassium feldspar–quartz (Stage I), quartz–gold–pyrite–molybdenite (Stage II), quartz–gold–polymetallic sulfide (Stage III), and quartz–carbonate stages (Stage IV). Four types of primary fluid inclusions are identified, including pure CO2-type, composite CO2-H2O-type, aqueous-type, and solid-daughter mineral-bearing-type inclusions. Microthermometric and compositional data reveal that the fluids were mesothermal to hypothermal, H2O-dominated, and CO2-rich fluids containing significant N2 and low-to-moderate salinity, indicative of a magmatic–hydrothermal origin. Fluid inclusion assemblages further imply that the ore-forming fluids underwent fluid immiscibility, causing CO2 effusion and significant changes in physicochemical conditions that destabilized gold bisulfide complexes. The hydrogen–oxygen isotopic compositions, moreover, support a dominant magmatic water source, with increasing meteoric water input during later stages. The carbon–oxygen isotopes are also consistent with a magmatic carbon source. Sulfur and lead isotopes collectively imply that ore-forming materials were derived from a hybrid crust–mantle magmatic reservoir, with minor contribution from the country rocks. By synthesizing temporal–spatial relationships between magmatic activity and ore formation, and the regional tectonic evolution, we suggest that the Hadamengou is an intrusion-related magmatic–hydrothermal lode gold deposit. It is genetically associated with multi-stage magmatism induced by crust–mantle interaction, which developed within the extensional tectonic regimes.

20 January 2026

(a) Tectonic subdivision of the North China Craton (modified from [27]); (b) distribution of major gold deposits on the northern margin of the North China Craton (modified from [4]); (c) simplified geological map of the Daqingshan–Wulashan area (modified from [40]).

Future shortages of minerals essential for green technologies have driven the search for new supply sources. In this context, deep-sea mining (DSM) has emerged as an innovative alternative for accessing strategic metals such as manganese and cobalt, among others, through the exploitation of deposits including polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts, and seafloor massive sulfides. However, while DSM could help meet the growing demand for minerals, it also presents significant challenges and opportunities. This study compiles and analyzes scientific publications on DSM to assess its potential effects. It reviews the main environmental impacts and, in addition, proposes a systematic classification of them. It also addresses the social and economic effects associated with this activity, considering human dynamics and the factors that shape its long-term viability. The results indicate that, although DSM may offer advantages over terrestrial mining, it still lacks a robust framework to mitigate impacts and anticipate future consequences. Unlike previous reviews focused on partial dimensions of sustainability, this work integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions through a systematic impact classification. Critical challenges remain in ecological understanding, environmental monitoring, and long-term socio-economic assessment, alongside an international governance framework that is still nascent, reinforcing the need for interdisciplinary research.

20 January 2026

Global distribution of the main provinces hosting deposits of interest for deep-sea mining. Dotted lines indicate mid-ocean ridges and major tectonic features, while colored areas represent the distribution of polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts, and seafloor massive sulfides. (Source: adapted from [5] (Creative Commons Attribution, CC BY).).

The Paleoproterozoic Aravalli Supergroup in northwest India hosts one of the oldest phosphorite deposits on Earth, located in the Jhamarkotra Formation, which was deposited after ca. 1762 Ma. Secondary enrichment is identified in the eastern region, resulting in upgradation of phosphate content, while primary stromatolitic columns are well-preserved in the western area of the Jhamarkotra mines. In this study, drill-core samples were collected from the unaltered western Block B and the upgraded eastern Block E to understand the alteration process. Petrographic studies reveal evidence of structural deformation and alteration. Elemental mapping of petrographic thin sections, employing SEM-EDS, indicates that dolomite has been leached out, resulting in phosphorite upgrading in the E-block. The major element oxide data support the leaching of dolomite. In the upgraded E-block, the weighted average P2O5 content nearly doubled (from 21% to 38%), while the MgO content decreased from 21% to 4% compared to the B-block. REE+Y contents in Block E are increased with minor Ce and Eu anomalies developed compared to the B Block. The U and Sr concentrations are also increased in Block E phosphorites. The petrographic and geochemical studies indicate that phosphorite enrichment was driven by structurally controlled, low-temperature hydrothermal alteration in the Jhamarkotra mines.

20 January 2026

(a) Geological map of the Aravalli Mobile Belt, illustrating the distribution of the Mewar Gneiss Complex and the Aravalli and Delhi supergroups. The insert shows the location of the Aravalli Mobile Belt in India. The rectangular area corresponds to the Udaipur region, the central part of the Aravalli Basin; (b) Geological map of the Udaipur region along with the regional lineaments deduced from satellite imagery; (c) Geological map of the Jhamarkotra Mines showing mining blocks (A–H) with rectangles and distribution of phosphorite and the drill core location ‘Core B’ and ‘Core E’.

This study investigated lithium beneficiation from nepheline syenite ore containing 242.57 ppm Li, identifying biotite as the primary lithium-bearing mineral. A high-intensity dry magnetic separation produced a pre-concentrate assaying at approximately 850–1000 ppm Li, and flotation tests were conducted on both the run-of-mine ore and this magnetic product. Flotation performance was systematically evaluated using two top sizes (−500 and −300 µm), six size fractions (−500 + 75, −500 + 53, −500 + 38, −300 + 75, −300 + 53, −300 + 38 µm), four pH values (2.5, 4.0, 6.5, 9.5), and three collectors (DAHC, Derna 7, and Der A4). Among the reagents, Der A4 yielded the most promising results. Optimization using sodium silicate as a depressant demonstrated that, at 20 g/t Der A4, 500 g/t Na2SiO3, and pH 4.0, the −300 + 75 µm fraction of the run-of-mine ore reached approximately 5300 ppm Li. Applying the same parameters to the magnetic pre-concentrate resulted in a 6326.46 ppm Li concentrate with roughly 80% of flotation recovery. Mineralogical characterization using MLA, XRD, modal mineralogy, and SEM-EDS confirmed that the optimized product consisted predominantly of biotite, accompanied by K-feldspar, nepheline, and albite. Liberation results showed high liberation levels and the free surface, supporting the efficiency of combining magnetic separation with flotation for upgrading nepheline syenite as a potential lithium resource.

19 January 2026

SEM-BSE images of (a) liberated biotite particle (−500 + 212 μm), (b) biotite particle binary locked with albite (−500 + 212 μm).

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Minerals - ISSN 2075-163X