A method of exploration for lateritic and bed-rock chromite mineralization used in the Philippines

Prior to 1976, few chromite reserves were known to exist in ultramafic environments with flat to moderate topography, where rock types are concealed below several meters of overlying lateritic soil. It has since been found that those lateritic soils in such environments may contain significant quantities of metallurgical- and chemical-grade chromite ore, recoverable by gravity separation methods. Between 1976 and 1981 several lateritic chromite deposits throughout the Philippines, particularly on Samar Island in the eastern Visayas, were delineated using a method involving auger drilling, test pitting, heavy mineral concentration, and analytical techniques.--Modified journal abstract.