Geochemistry and provenance analysis of the Daheishan bauxite deposit in Huize, Yunnan

The Daheishan bauxite deposit in Huize, Yunnan resides in the basal part of the Upper Permian Xuanwei Formation underlain by the Emeishan basalts. The bauxite ores from the Daheishan deposit display micritic, oolitic and granular textures, and densely massive, stratified and stratoid structures. There are both negative correlations between Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, and Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ and good correlations between TiO₂ and Zr, Hf, Nb and Ta, Zr and Hf, Nb and Ta. The bauxite and basalt samples in this study exhibit similar normalized distribution patterns. The ore-forming matter may be derived from the underlying Emeishan basalts, as indicated by LogNi and LogCr diagram.