The content of noble metals and rhenium in the Lower Paleozoic black shales of the eastern Baltic paleobasin in Russia was estimated. Shales are enriched in platinoids (PGM to 0.12 g/t) and rhenium (to 1.54 g/t). The main accessory elements of noble metals and Re are U, V, Mo, Cu, and Ni. Black shales consist of organic (9-26 rel.%), clay (40-60 rel.%), and silt-sandy (25-50 rel.%) components and a nodule complex (2-5 rel.%) (carbonate, sulfide, phosphate and silicate nodules). Noble metals occur sporadically in the silt-sandy admixture as native forms and intermetallics: Aunat, Au-Ag, Au-Cu, Au-(Cu)-Hg, Au-Hg, Ag-Cu, Pt-Fe. Micromineral phases of noble metals were found in diagenetic sulfides: Aunat, chalcopyrite with Au admixture, pyrite with platinoid admixture. Clay fraction is 10-fold enriched in noble metals as compared to shale – to 0.28 g/t Au, 0.55 g/t Pt, 1.05 g/t Pd, and 1.56 g/t Re. Organic matter sorbs noble metals to a limited extent but accumulates rhenium. Pore space of black shales contains a colloidal salt component (submicron fraction) which is represented by particles smaller than 1,000 nm. The share of submicron fraction in black shales is 0.1-6 wt.%. The submicron fraction contains on average: PGM – 14 g/t, Au – 0.85 g/t, and Re – 4.62 g/t. The geochemical resource of noble metals (Au, Pt, Pd), Re and the accessory elements (U, V, Mo, Cu, and Ni) for black shales as a whole and their submicron fraction was estimated. Black shales are recommended as an integrated source of raw materials.
In the Egypt's Eastern Desert intrusive rocks with U-REE mineralization (two-mica granites, microgranites, dolerites, and bostonites) are developed. We estimated the content of chemical elements in reference samples of intrusive rocks and also in their water-soluble (colloid-salt) fraction. This fraction is water-extracted from the rock under certain conditions. The rock sample and its colloid-salt fraction are analyzed using ICP-MS. The chemical characteristic of the extracted fraction reflects the mobile migrating part of the chemical elements in the composition of the rocks. Comparison of the obtained data allows us to estimate the share of migrating and weakly migrating elements.
Lower Paleozoic black shales are widespread in Sweden and form part of the Baltic paleobasin, which deposits are also known in Estonia and the Leningrad Oblast of Russia. These rocks are enriched in a carbon substance and characterized by the significant content of uranium, vanadium, molybdenum, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and lead. Black shales contain high levels of Sr – 968; Ba – 337; U – 229; V – 509; Mo – 165; Zn – 411; Ni – 214; Cu – 112 (ppm) in secondary minerals composition formed on their surface. Retrograde diagenetic conditions facilitate the black shales chemical weathering. Elements of the first (U), second (Mo, Sr, Zn), and third (V) hazard classes are washed out of black shales and secondary minerals and can further enter biological cycles.
The results of mineralogical, geochemical and technological research of black shale rocks are given. It is proved that black shales are now regarded as a new promising and innovative source of precious and rare-metal raw materials. It is pointed out that 3 wt. % of black shales samples is colloid-salt fraction (nanofraction) with a particle size less than 1000 nm and it can be extracted with water under specially chosen conditions. The use of water instead of chemically active reagents guarantees the absence of dissolved mineral matrix and clearly shows the colloidal salt component in samples. The results determine the direction of creating some new methods and technologies of carbonaceous feed dressing for integrated development of solid minerals in the mining and oil producing regions of Russia.
