Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-17T15:39:31.955Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mineralogy and technological characterization of two kaolin deposits from the Borborema Pegmatite Province, northeastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2019

Victor Matheus Joaquim Salgado Campos*
Affiliation:
Sector for Technological Characterization, Division for Mineral Analysis, Center for Mineral Technology, Pedro Calmon Avenue, 900 – Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil Postgraduate Program in Geology, Institute of Geology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Athos da Silveira Ramos Avenue, 274, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil Rio de Janeiro State University, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524 – Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
Luiz Carlos Bertolino
Affiliation:
Sector for Technological Characterization, Division for Mineral Analysis, Center for Mineral Technology, Pedro Calmon Avenue, 900 – Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil Rio de Janeiro State University, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524 – Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
Luana Caroline Silveira Nascimento
Affiliation:
Sector for Technological Characterization, Division for Mineral Analysis, Center for Mineral Technology, Pedro Calmon Avenue, 900 – Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225 – Gávea, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
José Yvan Pereira Leite
Affiliation:
Mineral Technology Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, 1559 – Tirol, Natal – RN, Brazil
Vitor Schwenk Brandão
Affiliation:
Sector for Technological Characterization, Division for Mineral Analysis, Center for Mineral Technology, Pedro Calmon Avenue, 900 – Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
Odivaldo Cambraia Alves
Affiliation:
Department of Physicochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro de S.J. Batista Street, Niterói – RJ, Brazil
Job Tolentino Junior
Affiliation:
Sector for Technological Characterization, Division for Mineral Analysis, Center for Mineral Technology, Pedro Calmon Avenue, 900 – Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil Rio de Janeiro State University, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524 – Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
*

Abstract

This research presents the mineralogical and chemical characterization and beneficiation study of two kaolin deposits from the Borborema Pegmatite Province, Brazil. Seven samples were collected and treated in two different beneficiation routes involving magnetic separation and chemical bleaching. The fractions obtained were studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, particle-size analyses, electron paramagnetic resonance and determination of optical properties. The samples are composed mainly of subhedral kaolinite in the form of booklets, as well as muscovite, quartz, microcline and illite impurities. The kaolinite structural formulae indicated significant replacement of Si4+ by Al3+ in tetrahedral sites and low replacement of Fe3+ by Al3+ in the octahedral sites. The first 30 min of chemical bleaching improved significantly the optical properties of kaolin, indicating that the process is more efficient than magnetic separation.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Associate Editor: J. Huertas

References

Almeida, F.F.M., Hasui, Y., Brito Neves, B.B. & Fuck, R.A. (1981) Brazilian structural provinces: an introduction. Earth-Science Review, 17, 129.Google Scholar
Angelim, L.A.A., Vasconcelos, A.M., Gomes, J.R.C., Wanderley, A.A., Fordiarini, L.L. & Medeiros, M.F. (2004) Carta Geológica do Brasil ao Milionésimo: Folha SB.24-Jaguaribe. CPRM, Brasília, Brazil.Google Scholar
Archanjo, C.J. & Salim, J. (1986) Posição da Formação Seridó no contexto estratigráfico regional (RN-PB). Pp. 270281 in: Simpósio de Geologia do Nordeste, Atas XII Simpósio Geologia Nordeste. Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia Núcleo Nordeste, Natal, Brazil.Google Scholar
Bertolino, L.C., Rossi, A.M., Scorzelli, R.B. & Torem, M.L. (2010) Influence of iron on kaolin whiteness: an electron paramagnetic resonance study. Applied Clay Science, 49, 170175.Google Scholar
Beurlen, H., Barreto, S., Martin, R., Melgarejo Draper, J.C., Da Silva, M.R.R. & Souza Neto, J.A. (2009) The Borborema Pegmatite Province, NE-Brazil revisited. Estudos Geológicos, 19, 6266.Google Scholar
Beurlen, H., Da Silva, M.R.R., Thomas, R., Soares, D.R. & Olivier, P. (2008) Nb-Ta-(Ti-Sn)-oxide mineral chemistry as tracers of rare-element granitic pegmatite fractionation in the Borborema Province, Northeast Brazil. Mineralium Deposita. 43, 207228.Google Scholar
Brindley, G.W. (1980) Quantitative X-ray analysis of clays. Pp. 411438 in: Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification (Brindley, G.W. & Brown, G., editors). Mineralogical Society Monograph 5. Mineralogical Society, London, UK.Google Scholar
Brito Neves, B.B. (1983) O mapa geológico do Nordeste oriental do Brasil. Dissertação de Livre Docência. Escala 1:1,000,000. Universidade de São Paulo.Google Scholar
Campos, A.P., Monteiro, C.C.O., Costa, D.T. & Silva, R.D. (2016) Caulim. Pp. 4041 in: Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral. Sumário Mineral. DNPM/MME, Brasilia, Brazil.Google Scholar
Campos, V.M.J.S., Bertolino, L.C. & Alves, O.C. (2017) Mineralogical characterization and beneficiation study of kaolin from Equador (RN) and Junco do Seridó (PB) to increase the brightness index. Cerâmica, 63, 369375.Google Scholar
Clozel, B., Allard, T. & Muller, J.P. (1994) Nature and stability of radiation-induced defects in natural kaolinites: new results and a reappraisal of published works. Clays and Clay Minerals, 42, 657666.Google Scholar
Dardenne, M.A. & Schobbenhaus, C. (editors) (2001) Metalogênese do Brasil. UnB/CPRM, Brasilia, Brazil.Google Scholar
Dill, H.G., Dohrmann, R., Kaufhold, S. & Balaban, S. (2015) Kaolinization – a tool to unravel the formation and unroofing of the Pleystain pegmatite-aplite system (SE Germany). Ore Geology Reviews, 69, 3356.Google Scholar
Erkoyun, H. & Kadir, S. (2011) Mineralogy, micromorphology, geochemistry and genesis of a hydrothermal kaolinite deposit and altered Miocene host volcanites in the Hallaçlar area, Usak, western Turkey. Clays and Clay Minerals, 46, 421448.Google Scholar
Fentaw, H.M. & Mengistu, T. (1998) Comparison of Kombelcha and Bombowha kaolins of Ethiopia. Applied Clay Science, 13, 149164.Google Scholar
Gopinath, T.R. & Muniz e Silva, C.M.M. (1990) Processo de formação de caulim primário nos pegmatitos da região de Junco do Seridó, Paraíba. Pp. 12941301 in: Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, 3, Paraíba. Anais do III Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, Paraíba. Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia, Sao Paolo, Brazil.Google Scholar
Jardim de Sá, E.F. & Salim, J. (1980) Reavaliação dos conceitos estratigráficos na região do Seridó (RN-PB). Mineração e Metalurgia, 80, 1628.Google Scholar
Johnston, W.D. Jr (1945) Beryl-tantalite pegmatites of Northeastern Brazil. Geological Society American Bulletin, 56, 10151070.Google Scholar
Kadir, S. & Akbulut, A. (2009) Mineralogy, geochemistry and genesis of the Tașoluk kaolinite deposits in pre-Early Cambrian metamorphites and Neogene volcanites of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Clay Minerals, 44, 89112.Google Scholar
Keller, W.D. (1978) Classification of kaolins exemplified by their textures in scan electron micrographs. Clays and Clay Minerals, 26, 120.Google Scholar
Legrand, J.M., Martins Sá, J., Neves Maia, H. & De Souza, L.C. (2009) Carta Geológica Folha Jardim do Seridó SB-24-Z-B-V. CPRM, Brasilia, Brazil.Google Scholar
Leite, J.Y.P., Araújo, F. & Tavares, T. (2014) Small scale mining cluster of kaolin in Brazil. Presented at: XXVII International Mineral Processing Congress, Santiago, Chile.Google Scholar
Leite, J.Y.P., Veras, M.M., Santos, E.P., Lima, R.F.S., Paulo, J.B.A. & Pinheiro, M. (2007) Technological characterization of kaolin tailing from small-scale mining in RN and PB states – Brazil. Minerals Engineering, 20, 959961.Google Scholar
Madeiros Lima, E.A., Wanderley, A.A., Vieira, A.T., Medina, A.I.M., Barbosa, A.J., Vasconcelos, A.M., Amaral, C.A., Sato, E.Y., Silva, E.H.R.O., Leite, J.F., Moraes, J.F.S., Ribeiro, J.A., Nesi, J.R., Angelim, L.A.A. & Calheiros, M.E.V. (1980) Projeto scheelita do Seridó – relatório final. DNPM/CPRM, Recife, Brazil.Google Scholar
Meads, R.E. & Malden, P.J. (1975) Electron spin resonance in natural kaolinite containing Fe3+ and other transition metal ions. Clay Minerals, 10, 313345.Google Scholar
Montes, C.R., Melfi, A.J., Carvalho, A., Vieira Coelho, A.C. & Formoso, M.L.L. (2002) Genesis, mineralogy and geochemistry of kaolin deposits of the Jari River, Amapá State, Brazil. Clays and Clay Minerals, 50, 494503.Google Scholar
Moore, D.M. & Reynolds, R.C. Jr (1989) X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA.Google Scholar
Murray, H.H. & Keller, W.D. (1993) Kaolins, kaolins, and kaolins. Pp. 124 in: Kaolin: Genesis and Utilization (Murray, H.H., Bundy, W.M. & Harvey, C.C., editors). The Clay Minerals Society, Chantilly, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Parker, J.M. III (1946) Residual Kaolin Deposits of the Spruce Pine District, Technical Report. United States Geological Survey, Raleigh, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Prasad, M.S., Reid, K.J. & Murray, H.H. (1991) Kaolin: processing, properties and applications. Applied Clay Science, 6, 87119.Google Scholar
Rolff, P.A.M.A. (1945) Boletim 73: Geologia da província tântalo-glucinífera da Borborema, Technical Report. DNPM/DFPM, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Google Scholar
Roy, P.L., Dottin, O. & Madon, H.L. (1964) Série Geológica no. 1: Estudo dos pegmatitos do Rio Grande do Norte e da Paraíba, Technical Report. DRN-SUDENE, Recife, Brazil.Google Scholar
Saddiqui, M.A. & Ahmed, Z. (2005) Mineralogy of the Swat kaolin deposits, Pakistan. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 30, 195218.Google Scholar
Scorza, E.P. (1944) Boletim 112: Província Pegmatítica da Borborema, Technical Report. DNPM-DGM/MME, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Google Scholar
Scorzelli, R.B., Bertolino, L.C., Da Luz, A.B., Duttine, M., Silva, F.A.N.G. & Munayco, P. (2008) Spectroscopic studies of kaolin from different Brazilian regions. Clay Minerals, 43, 129135.Google Scholar
Silva, F.A.N.G., Da Luz, A.B., Sampaio, J.A., Bertolino, L.C., Scorzelli, R.B., Duttine, M. & Da Silva, F.T. (2009) Technological characterization of kaolins: study of the case of the Borborema–Seridó region (Brazil). Applied Clay Science, 44, 189193.Google Scholar
Silva, M.R.R. & Dantas, J.R.A. (1997) Província pegmatítica da Borborema–Seridó, Paraíba e Rio Grande do Norte, 1st edn. Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral, Brasilia, Brazil.Google Scholar
Sousa, D.J.L.D., Varajão, A.F.D.C., Yvon, J. & Da Costa, G.M. (2007) Mineralogical, micromorphological and geochemical evolution of the kaolin facies deposit from the Capim region (northern Brazil). Clay Minerals, 42, 6987.Google Scholar
Wilson, I.R., Santos, H.S. & Santos, P.S. (2006) Kaolin and halloysite deposits of Brazil. Clay Minerals, 41, 697716.Google Scholar