Application of Moessbauer spectroscopy to iron-57 bauxite

Five different samples from bauxite and related terrains in Jamaica were selected for Moessbauer analysis. Sample 1 is lithiophorite, a lithium aluminum manganese oxide, present as an impurity in Jamaican bauxite; sample 2 is a common red bauxite ore, from Kirkvine, Manchester; sample 3 is a pisolitic bauxite from Reynolds, St. Ann; sample 4 is a red bauxite with pisolites from Mocho; and sample 5 is a shaly material containing some lateritic material which characterizes mining areas. Whereas sample 1 contains fine particles of goettite and/or aluminium substituted goettite, samples 2,3,4,5 contain mixtures of haematite and goettite and/or aluminium substituted goettite in varying concentrations. The findings are consistent with Hill's bauxitization process