HEAVY METAL DISTRIBUTION IN LATERITES, SOUTHWEST OF REGENT, FREETOWN IGNEOUS COMPLEX, SIERRA LEONE.

Multielement analyses of residual lateritic soils over an area in the western part of the Freetown intrusive igneous complex, Sierra Leone, revealed sympathetic secondary dispersion of some potential pathfinder elements associated with high platinum and iron concentrations. Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Co, and Ni tend to be enriched in iron-rich laterites and suitable combinations of these elements such as Zn/Ni produce linear relationships which may be a useful guide to the recognition and exploitation of subsurface mineralization.