TITLE:
Employing Principal Component Analysis and K-Means Clustering to Elucidate the Geological Compositional Process at N’Guérédonké Ultramafic Fe-Ti Deposit
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Lamine Salifou Sanogo, Ibrahim Wagani
KEYWORDS:
N’Guérédonké, Fe-Ti Deposits, Ultramafic, Magmatic, Fractional Crystallisation, PCA, Clustering, Guinea
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: The N’Guérédonké deposit, Faranah Province (Republic of Guinea), is part of the Leonian-Liberian crystalline shield, consisting of Archean granitoids and greenstone formations with a syn-tectonic ultramafic intrusion. This complex features a dunite core enveloped by wehrlite, pyroxenite, and gabbro, characterized by significant Fe-T mineralization, particularly ilmenite and magnetite in the southern pyroxenite unit, showing the highest TiO2 grades. The study uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on samples to identify correlations among chemical elements. Three main components accounted for 77.01% of the variance (PC1, PC2, PC3), indicating key lithological signatures. K-Means clustering identified four distinct clusters related to lithological characteristics; Cluster 1 as fresh unaltered rocks, Clusters 2 and 4 are associated with Fe-Ti ore whereas Cluster 3 represents alteration patterns with Clusters 2 and 4 identified as priority targets for Fe-Ti ore. NGU has characterized a unique signature of Fe-Ti oxides in ultramafic deposits, such as titaniferous magnetite and chromite spinels, through Fe, Ti, and Cr correlations. Late mobilization of Cu and Zn suggests magmatic fractionation, with a notable negative correlation between SiO2 and Fe (−0.88) indicating fractional crystallization. The study identifies various clusters based on geochemical analyses, with Cluster 1 reflecting primary lithology and Cluster 3 relating to hydrothermal alterations. Exploration is guided by understanding geochemical complexity in ultramafic deposits.