Geochemical and Mineralogical characterization of the laterites in Northern Oman Mountains and their economic values) (Phase Two

Laterite is regarded as a residuum of the process of desilification, rich in aluminum, iron or both (Humbert, 1948; McFarlane, 1976; Firman, 1994). Laterites are an important source of many metal ores, particularly Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Al, possibly Pt and Au. The factors required for the concentration of these other metals to reach economic levels involve geological, geochemical, geographical parameters. The stratigraphic and palaeogeomorphologic conditions of the laterite deposition in the Sultanate of Oman are related to the geotectonic evolution of eastern Oman Mountains during the late Cretaceous. The present project is extension to previous studies (phase one) on the Ni laterite in the Oman mountains to demonstrate the economic potentiality of these rocks and further to identify the various lateritic zones according to their mineralogical and geochemical composition that will be used as a basis for their classification and their depositional environment and consequently reevaluation their economic feasibility.