Implications of factor analysis in the geochemistry of Nishikhal manganese deposit, eastern ghats, Orissa, India

Abstract

Normalised major and trace element data of manganese ores from Nishikhal are processed by using R-mode factor analysis of correlation matrix. Twenty major and trace elemental variables are expressed in terms of 3 common (rotated) factors to understand the mineralogical occurrences and the processes of formation of the manganese deposit. Varimax factor scores are used to classify in a finer detail the manganese ore types.