Geology and Geochemistry of the Chromiferous Mineralization in the External Zone of the Pan-African Dahomeyides Belt, Northwestern Benin (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa)
Abstract
Occurrences of chromium mineral exist in Bénin within the external nappes
of the Pan-African Dahomeyides belt. These chromite deposits are podiform
types
and
hosted
in
the
serpentinite.
Blackish
color,
the
chromite
appears
under
microscope
in
transmitted
light,
as cracked
phenocrystals
with
tangles
of
the
serpentinite
venules.
Chemical
analyses
using
X-ray
fluorescence
spectrometer
showed
the
chromite
ore
consists
of
about
38%
Cr
and total (Cr
2
O
3
+ Al
2
O
) is 60%. This chromiferous mineralisation resulted
from the magmatic cumulates formation by fractional crystallization of an
ultramafic magma.