Modes of occurrence and origin of ore minerals from the Tatehira manganese ore deposit, Southwest Hokkaido

Abstract

The Tatehira manganese ore deposit, located in Southeast Hokkaido is hosted in Paleozoic metasediments rock and is metamorphosed by quartz diorite. Origin and formation process of Tatehira manganese ore deposit are discussed based on the occurrence of ore and mineralogy of manganese ore. The REE pattern of ore suggests that the deposit is originated by manganese oxide/hydroxide precipitation products by the hydrothermal activity. Based on geothermometry of gersdorffite- cobaltite series, rhodonite was estimated to be crystallized at about 450 to 550°C.