Post on 04-Jan-2016
transcript
Brines and Chemicals
©2009 Dr. B. C. Paul
Acknowledgement is given to Industrial Minerals SME, Nevada-outback-gems.com, mindat.org, minerals information institute,
Boron Minerals
• Come from old evaporite deposits
• Used as a flux in metals and ceramics
• Important in making fiberglass insulation
• Used in Boro-Silicate Glass and in enamals
• In Soaps and Detergents
Boron Processing
• Most Boron mined by open pit• Ore is crushed and then dissolved
– Crystalized under a vaccuum and dried– Resulting Anyhydrous borax is then used for
boric acid
• Some minerals can be used directly in boric acid production
• Others can be used directly in making fiberglass
Borax
Na2[B4O7] · 10H2OS.G. 1.715 Hardness 2 - 2½ Color Colorless, grey, white, yellowish,seldom bluish or greenish; colorless intransmitted light. Fluorescence – not fluorescentBoron 11.3% B2O3 36.51%
Colemenite
Ca2B6O11·5(H2O)S.G. 2.42 Hardness 4.5Color Colorless, Gray, Gray white, Yellowish white,White.Fluorescence Not FluorescentBoron 15.78% B2O3 50.81%
Tincalconite
Na6[B4O5(OH)4]3·8(H2O)S.G. 1.88 Hardness 2Color WhiteFluorescence – not fluorescentBoron 15.16% B2O3 48.81%
Kernite
Na2B4O6(OH)2·3(H2O) S.G. 1.9 - 1.92, Average = 1.91 Hardness 2.5-3 Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence – NoneBoron 14.9% B2O3 47.97%
Ulexite
NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O)S.G. 1.95 - 1.96, Average = 1.95 Hardness 2.5 Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence NoneBoron 13.34% B2O3 42.95%
Chlorine
• Made by electrolysis of dissolved salt
• Chlorine needed in many petroleum based plastics and synthetics– Example Polyvinalchloride (PVC)
• Needed in Elastic products
• Used in water purification applications
• Used in fuel additives and solvents
Sources of Salt and Evaporite Deposits
From Evaporites By John K. Warren
Relationship of Temperature and Continental Position to Evaporite Deposits
From Evaporites By John K. Warren
HaliteNaCl S.G. 2.1 - 2.6 Hardness 2 - 2½ Color Colorless, white, red, yellow, orange, pink, green, blue, violet, gray
Sodium
• Sodium Hydroxide (caustic)– Byproduct of chlorine production– Needed to making Cellophane and Nylon– Key to paper making– Supplies generally constrained by chlorine production
• As an alkaline agent or for making– Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium cyanide, sodium nitrate,
sodium silicate may want to start with other minerals
Trona
Na3(CO3)(HCO3)·2(H2O)S.G. 2.11 - 2.17, Average = 2.13 Hardness 2.5 Color Colorless, Gray white, Grayish,Yellowish, Yellowish white. Fluorescence None
Mirabilite and Thenardite
Mirabilite Na2SO4·10(H2O) S.G. 1.49 Hardness 1.5-2 Color Colorless, White, Yellowish white,Greenish white.Fluorescence None
Thenardite Na2SO4S.G. 2.67 - 2.7, Average = 2.68 Hardness 2.5 Color White, Grayish white, Yellowish white, Reddish white,Brownish white. Fluorescence - Yes
Fluorine
• Key compound is Hydrofluoric acid– Made by reacting sulfuric acid with Flourspar
• Fluorocarbons are the basis of refrigerants– Chlorine removal to “protect” the ozone layer has
made us more dependent on fluorine• Synthetic chryolite used for aluminum making
comes from fluorine• Sodiumsilicofluoride is used to prevent tooth
decay• Fluorspar itself is a key flux in metal and ceramic
making
Fluorspar
CaF2 S.G. 3.175 - 3.56 Hardness 4Color Purple, lilac, golden-yellow, green,colorless, blue, pink, champagne, brown. Fluorescence – blueFluorine 48.67%
Potash
• Potassium a key nutrient in plant growth– One of 3 K, N, P
• Source from evaporite deposits• Brine sources are selectively precipitated to
bring down potassium salts separate from others• For solid sources the rock is ground and then
separated by using flotation or small density differences for heavy media– There is also an electric charging process that allows
the ore to be processed dry
Sylvite
KCl S.G. 1.99 Hardness 2.5Color White, Yellowish white, Reddish white, Bluish white, Brownish white. Fluorescence – NonePotassium 52.45%
Langbeinite
K2Mg2(SO4)3
S.G. 2.83 Hardness 3.5-4 Color Colorless, Violet, Greenish, Gray, Yellowish.Fluorescence – YesPotassium 18.84%
Sulfur
SS.G. 2.05 - 2.09, Average = 2.06 Hardness 1.5-2.5 Color Yellow, Yellowish brown, Yellowish gray, Reddish, Greenish.Fluorescence None
Witherite
BaCO3
S.G. 4.3 Hardness 3-3.5 Color Colorless, Milky white, Grayish white, Pale yellowish white, Pale brownish white.Fluorescence – Bluish-White Magnetic – No Barium 69.59%
Sanbornite
BaSi2O5
S.G. 3.74 Hardness 5 Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence - YesMagnetic – NoBarium 51.21%