Cobalt-rich lithiophorite from the Precambrian Eastern Ghats manganese ore deposit of Nishikhal, south Orissa, India

Fine-grained aggregates of lithiophorite are associated with cryptomelane, romanèchite, birnessite and graphite in the Precambrian Eastern Ghats manganese ore deposit of Nishikhal, south Orissa, India. High-cobalt lithiophorite is reported for the first time from the manganese ores. The mode of occurrence and the chemical composition of the lithiophorite are discussed. Along with manganese and aluminium, the lithiophorite contains appreciable quantities of CoO (1.59-8.56%) together with trace amounts of Cu, Ni, Zn, Ti, Ca, Mg, Na, K and P. The Nishikhal lithiophorite is a transition metal-rich lithiophorite.