Enrichment mechanism of gallium associated with bauxite deposits in northern Guizhou Province, China

Gallium (Ga) is a key rare metal that supports strategic emerging industries and new-quality productivity. Bauxite deposits contribute 90% of the world’s Ga, and China holds 75% of the global reserves (136,600 tons). Among them, the predicted reserves in the Wuzhengdao area in northern Guizhou are about 40,000 tons, with outstanding resource potential. At present, the study on the distribution characteristics and enrichment mechanism of Ga in aluminum-bearing rock series in northern Guizhou is still relatively weak, which restricts the prospecting, exploration and utilization of regional gallium resources. This article uses X-ray fluorescence analysis, LA-ICP-MS analysis, and data collection to address the sedimentary environment, occurrence state, and enrichment mechanism of gallium in aluminum-bearing rock formations. Gallium in bauxite is significantly controlled by aluminum, and the variation trend of Ga is the same as that of Al. Gallium in rocks of aluminum bearing rock series may mainly exists in the form of isomorphism, but the mineral assemblage affects the Ga enrichment. The Ga enrichment ability is greater in boehmite > boehmite + clay minerals > clay minerals. Different rocks can also affect the Ga enrichment ability. The Ga enrichment ability is greater in bauxite > aluminum clay rock and clay rock. Changes in the sedimentary environment can form different minerals and affect the enrichment of Ga. Changes in sedimentary environmental media can form different minerals, which can affect the enrichment of gallium. The Ga enrichment is obviously restricted by continental deposition. Bauxite mineralization occurs in the parent rock through water leaching in weak acid-weak alkali, weak oxidation to weak reduction, and Ga is enriched synchronously with the enrichment of aluminum. There is little research on the distribution and enrichment of Ga in bauxite in this area.