Chemistry Journal of Moldova

COMPOSITION OF MINERAL PHASES OF THE GHIDIRIM DIATOMITE

Author(s):

Vasile Rusu, Aliona Vrînceanu and Igor Polevoi


Field: Ecological chemistry
Type: Research paper
Issue: 2007 Volume 2, no.1
Pages: 63-66
Keywords:

diatomite, mineralogical composition.


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DOI:
dx.doi.org/10.19261/cjm.2007.02(1).13

Graphical Abstract: 
Studies of the mineralogical composition of diatomite from the Ghidirim location of RM, as well as of the extracted clay phase are presented. The mineral phase of the diatomite contains a number of clay minerals, like montmorillonite (in a mixture with insignificant quantities of slightly chloritized montmorillonite), illite and kaolinite. Diatomite contains also non-clay components as fine-dispersed quartz and amorphous material, the more probable sources of which are opal, amorphous alumosilicates, aluminum and iron hydroxides. The applied procedure for separation of clay fractions by sizing settling in liquid media proves to be very useful, enabling possibilities for more accurate identification of the clay constituents of diatomic material. Procedure allows to separate very clean clay fraction especially rich in montmorillonite, which can be utilized itself as mineral adsorbent for practical purposes.


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