Critical minerals and elements in the Szendrő Phyllite Formation

Szendrő Mts., NE-Hungary

Abstract

In our study, black phyllites collected from outcrops of Vasbánya-hill (near Meszes village, Szendrő Mts, Szendrő Phyllite Formation) are examined with optical and electron microscopy and with X-ray powder diffraction focusing on the graphite and critical element content of the rocks. Based on our results, graphite was detected as 50-150 µm sized flakes. Regarding the critical elements, the samples contained titanium (mainly as TiO₂, rarely as ilmenite, and built into phengite), niobium (built into TiO₂), strontium (in fluorapatite and monazite), and rare earth elements (in xenotime, monazite and goethite).