BEHAVIOR OF SCANDIUM DURING ROCK LATERITIZATION

Abstract

The behavior of scandium during lateritization of any given rock is based on how it is distributed among the main (rock-forming) and weathering-resistant accessory minerals of the rock. Scandium most likely is leached during weathering by alkaline media in which it can migrate in the form of carbonate complexes. Thus, in lateritic weathering there occurs a balance between the residually accumulating scandium that is liberated and to some extent hydrated during the transformation of the main rock-forming minerals, and the scandium that is leached from the rock that undergoes the weathering. The latter is the reason why the migrating scandium can acumulate in other rocks. However, it will only accumulate in rocks that are spatially and genetically close to the rocks that are being degraded into a lateritic weathered mantle.