" cR'6clI\ 4-FI.", :

, ,.I URANERZBERGBAU GMBH

II Assessment of exfoliation tests of vermiculiteI samples from Mud Tank prospect,

N.T. Australia

I compiled by

Dr. G. SeidlI Dr. W. Vogel

I Bonn March 1982i

'II 1. Specifications of Commercial Vermiculite

-The most important features of commercial vermiculite are theI screen size of unexpanded material and the crude bulk density

of expanded material.

I The specifications of commercial vermiculite concentrates arelisted in table 1.

I .W.R. Grace Size equ.Size Crude bulk palabora

I designation Tyler mesh mm density designation romkg/m)

premium 8-16II 1 3-10 6,7 -1,65 63-111 large 4- 8

2 8-14 2,4 -1,17 63-127 medium 2- 4I 3 10-35 1,65-0,42 79-143 fine 1- 2

4 28-65 0,6 -0,2 95-159 super ine 0,5-1I 5 35+ ~0,42 127-175 micr 5-0,5

(j~I Tab. 1 Specifications of Vermiculite ~ i ~

I ~~'ft'tj ~

I ~.,,; ..,,", ,v'"

--

J, -2 -

I .;

II Specifications generally limit the impurities in concentrates

I to 10 % for the larger sizes and 15 % for the smaller ones. Loss on

ignition of predried material should not exceed 10 %.

I Depending on the quality prices of vermiculite concentrates

(unexpanded) are in the range between 64 and 98 US$/t (f.o.b. us

I producer). African sources range between 100 and 160$/t Cc.i.f. U.S

ports).

I Trans~ortation cost may account for 50 % or more of the price atpoint of delivery.

I Very small flake sizes are not in as great demand as the larger

!sizes, the latter having limited availability and being accordingly,

higher priced. There is no market for vermiculite with a flakeI size less than 0,25 mm or a crude bulk density exceeding 190 kg/mJ.

I Commercial vermiculite deposits are considered high grade if they

assay 50 % or more, medium grade if between 50 and 30 % and

I low grade if less than 30%.

I 2. Specifications of the Mud Tank Vermiculite

Tests of two samples from Mud Tank prospect, Alcoota/N.T. Australia

I revealed contents of 28 % and 22,8 % of low quality vermiculite. .The results of the screen size and exfoliation tests are

I summarized in table 2.

I Sample Wt% vermiculite Crude bulk densitykg/m3

R54 > 2 3,6 182

I "2 -0,5 rnrn 13,9 294" 1 -0,5 mm 8,8 526

I "0,5-0,25rnrn 1,7 476,,~ 28,0 0 364

I .

II

,

.-3 ---

.I "" :

II Sample Vermiculite Crude bulk density

I Wt % kg/mJ

R55 2 mm 2,1 217I " 2 -1 mm 7,8 323

" 1 -0,5 mm 9,5 392

I "0,5-0,25mm 3,4 385

"~ 22,8 ~ 351

ITab. 2: Results of&xeen size and exfoliation tests of

I vermiculite samples R54 and R55

I Flake size of most of the vermiculite is in the range between

0,5 and 2,0 rom, corresponding to lower priced "superfine" and

"fine" grades of Palabora designation.

I The crude bulk density of expanded material varies from 182 to526 kg/mJ. .

.I 3. Rating of the Mud Tank Vermiculite

I Compared to the values given in tab. 1 th,e samples from Mud Tank

prospect do not satisfy the requirements of commercial vermiculit;

I since the crude bulk density of expanded material is too high or,

in other words, the exfoliation characteristics of the Mud Tank

I Vermiculite are too low.

II.II. -

II

-~../~

It;

I URANERZBERGBAU GMBH

II Mineralogical Report 79-11

Project 821.0 Tennant Creek Me.. '.30 3

I UEB order 3706

IResults of Exfoliation Tests

I with 2 Vermiculite Specimensfrom Mud Tank Prospect,

I A1coota District, N.T., Australia

IIIIt

Bonn, ~1arch 1982 Exploration Department

I Compiled by: cand.min. B. KrugE. von pechmann

I.

I.I

III.

--

I \ ;

ITABLE OF CONTENTSI --

I 1. INTRODUCTION 2

I 2. PROCEDURE 3

I 3. RESULTS 5

I 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY 6

I

I

II ~

III

III.

III

-"'-

I ..; -2 -

ISamples sent by: Dr. D.O. Zimmerman, UAL/Jan. 25,1979

I UEB arrival: January 31, 1979

InvestigationsI required: Examination of quality

I1. INTRODUCTION

I Two sample bags of vermiculitic material have been sent to

UEB, Bonn, by Dr. D.O. Zimmerman, UAL-Perth, for technicalI ~ mineralogical investigations in order to determine the

quality of the vermiculite.

IThey derived from a vermiculite showing near Mud Tank, Al-

I coota District, N.T., Australia (160 km Nt of Alice Springs).

The samples were given the UEB numbers R 54 and R 55.

I Sample R 54 weighed 2,4 kg, R 55 weighed 1,92 kg.

I The testing procedure was performed according to GILLSON( 1 960 , pp. 893 -894).

.I

I ..IJIII .

II

.,...-

I ,,; -3 -,

II 2. PROCEDU~

I The samples have been divided into 5 siev:e fracti.ons (abov:e2 Inm; 2 -1 Inmj 1, -0,5 Inm; 0,5 -0,25 mm.j below 0,25 mm.)

and weighed afterwards.

IThe finest grained fraction «0,25 mm) was not used for the

.I following investigati.ons since such fine grained vari.etiesare of no economic interest.

'I () The volume of the fractions was measured by a Beckman ai.r

I comparison pycnometer. After weighing, the density was cal-culated.

I Afterwards the fractions hav:e been heated at 10000 C forabout 5 minutes. The exfoliable portions had been exfoliated

I completely, since r~pe~ted heating Of,the samples di.d notcause further exfolJ.atJ.,on of the partl.cles.

I Then volume, weight and density of the heated fractionshave been determined (by air comparison pycnometer and

J balance). ,

The heated fractions were elutriated in order to divide theI f8 exfoliated from the non exfoliated portions. The exfoli.ated .

portions would float on top of the water.I. After elutriation the density of the exfoliated vermiculitic

portLon was determined, additionally also of the non exfo-I liated portion consisting of quartz and feldspar and non

exfoliable sheetsilicates (air comparison pycnometer and

I. balance).

The separation of the exfoli.ated and of the non exfoliatedI portions was not perfect, since obv:iously part of the

I -

II

,_.-~- ,

I ",; -4 -

II slightly exfoliated particles is adsorbing water like a sponge

and sinks down before it can be taken from the water surface.

I Thus, actually the percentage of exfoliated is slightly

higher than presented in the attached tables. But since the .results of the tables were gained by simulating the economic

I procedure (GILLSON, op.cit.), the results are representative

for the economic value of the investigated material.

I The exfoliated portions were used for another type of volu-

I metric determination, i.e. by means of removing of water in

~ a cylinder.

I This kind of volumetric determination is rather inaccurate,

but its results give an indication of the true ability to

I exfoliate. During the measurement wit~ the air comparison

pycnometer, the volume of a material is determined without

its pore space accessible from outside. By means of this

I second kind of volumetric measurement the volume of a material

.is determined together with its pores (because of the surface

.I tension of water).

I This se~ond.valu~ is of eco~omic i~port~~e since the. quality

of verml.cull.tes l.ncreases wl.th thel.r abl.ll.ty to exfoll.ate.

I ..Finally, the volumes of the exfoliated portions have been

I determined by pouring the material loosely into a cylinder.

Again, this kind of measurement is rather inaccurate but the

results can certainly be used as a standard for the economic

I value of the vermiculite which is often used as packing and

shock protecting material.

I

.II -

II

-c

I \,; -5 -

II 3. RESULT~

After drying, the weight of sample R 54 had sunk from 2401 gI to 1592 g ( = 66,3 %), that. of R 55 from 1923 g to 1324 g

(= 68,8 %). The finest grained sieve fraction «0,25 rom) had

I 17,25 wt.-% of the dried sample R 54 and 22,6 wt.-% of thedried sample R 55 (table 1).

I Thus only 83 % (R 54) respectively 77 % (R 55) of the samples

have been used for the further investigations.

.I G) The relations of the sievefractions to each other is almost

the same before and after heating for 5 minutes (table 1).

I In R 54 the fractions 2 -1 rom and 1 -0,5 rom are largest,

whereas in R 55 the fraction 1 -0,5 rom clearly has the

I largest weight percentage (table 3). The fraction with thelargest grains () 2 rom)has the smallest weight percentage in

I both samples ( 4 resp. 3 wt.-%).

" I The volume of R 54 grew for 48,8 % after heating (from

494 cm3 .to 735,2 cm3); the volume of R 55 grew for 47,6 %

I (from 365,8 cm3 to 540,1 cm3; table 2).

~ The largest volume of the exfoliated portions is reached by

I" the fraction 2 -1 rom in R 54 (18 % of the total volume of .

the heated sample;cf. table 4). In R 55 the exfoliated

.I particles of the fraction 1 -0,5 rom reach the largestvolume (14 vol.-% of the total heated sample; cf. table 4).

I Table 5 and Fig. 1 show the volumes of all exfoliated por-

I tions, calculated for a weight of 10 grams of material.

This table also contains the results of the volumetric

I measurements in the water filled cylinder (i.e. volumes

I. .

II

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I" -6 -

Igained by removing of water). The values are the mean from

I two measurements which showed strong volumetric variations.

Since this kind of volumetry has a large error its results

I are not shown in tables 2 and 4. But the results reveal the.

exfoliability of the vermiculites.

I Table 5 also presents the volumes of the exfoliated portions

I which had been loosely poured in a cylinder. This kind of

-measurements has a large error, too, since the volumes

I decrease strongly when the cylinder is shaken. But neverthe-

() less the results are reproduced in this report since,they

are an expression of the quality of the vermiculites (cf.

I chapter 2).

I Table 5 shows that the exfoliated portions of the largestfractions (>2 rom) possess the strongest exfoliability. The

I finest grained fractions (0,5 -0,25 rom) contain the least

exfoliable vermiculites. (One must consider that the errorsI of measurement are larger for the coarser grained than for

the finer fractions).

II .4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

I Gillson, J.L., ed. (1960) Industrial minerals and rocks(nonmetallics other than fuels) 3rd ed. Seeley W. Mudd series.

I The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Pe-

troleum Engineers, New York, 934 p.

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11- ~ .I v r. "\ .U RAN E R Z BE R G BA U G M B H

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I : r.,-cw- -H~I ,

~ DATE 11 I1AY :979 RECEI'..E!) ;I ~ ::lineralogical Report 79- j 1- -:

fl:'lfiG CGCEc Project 8210 Tennant Creek 'I~

I UEB order 3706 I I i

1V'\e..'So~

I .; Results of Exfoliation Testsi

I: with 2 Vermiculite Specimens( from Mud Tank Prospect,

I Alcoota District, N.T., Australia

J

Ic

,I

II (.J

Bonn, April 17, 1979 Exploration Department

.I Compiled by: cand.rnin. B. Krugc E. von Pechrnann

I.I .

IIcl

I

I 1-2 -

.I" ,1

I Samples sent by: Dr. D.O. Zimmerman, UAL/Jan. 25,1979

UEB arrival: January 31, 1979

Investigations1 required: Examination of quality

I1. INTRODUCTION

I Two sample bags of vermiculitic material have been sent to

I UEB, Bonn, by Dr. D.O. Zimmerman, VAL-Perth, for technical

mineralogical investigations in order to determine the1 quality of the vermiculite.

They derived from a vermiculite showing near Mud Tank, ~.l-

.I coota District, N.T., Australia (160 km Nt of Alice Spr1.ngs).

I The samples were given the UEB numbers R 54 and R 55.

.c Sample R 54 weighed 2,4 kg, R 55 weighed 1,92 kg.

I The testing procedure was performed according to GILLSONi

(1960, pp. 893 -894).

IIIII .

I.I

II

...,.

cI -3 -~-

I 1--, .<" -j .,.,

2. PROCEDURE

IThe samples have been divided into 5 sieve fractions (above

I 2 mIni 2 -1 mIni 1 -0,5 rom; 0,5 -0,25 rom; below 0,25 mm)

and weighed afterwards.

I The finest grained fraction « 0,25 rom) was not used for the

following investigations since such fine grained varieties.I are of no economic interest.

I The volume of the fractions was measured by a Beckman air

comparison pycnometer. After weighing, the density was cal-

I culated.

I Afterwards the fractions have been heated at 10004 C for

about 5 minutes. The exfoliable portions had been exfoliated

completely, since repeated heating of the samples did not

I cause further exfoliation of the particles.

.Then volume, weight and density of the heated fractions

I have been determined (by air comparison pycnometer and

balance).

I. The heated fractions were elutriated in order to divide the

I exfoliated from the non exfoliated portions. The exfoliated

portions would float on top of the water.

After elutriation the density of the exfoliated vermiculitic

portLon was determined, additionally also of the non exfo-

liated portion consisting of quartz and feldspar and non

exfoliable sheetsilicates (air comparison pycnometer andbalance). .

I The separation of the exfoliated and of the non exfoliated

portions was not perfect, since obviously part of the

-,

I 7, -4 -

¥

.~I :. I

J

I Sligh~lY exfoliated pa~ticles is adsorbing water like a sponge

and sl.nks down before l.t can be taken from the water surface.

I Thus, actually the percentage of exfoliated is slightly

higher than presented in the attached tables. But since the

I results of the tables were gained by simulating the economic

procedure (GILLSON, op.cit.), the results are representative

I for the economic value of the investigated material.

The exfoliated portions were used for another type of volu-I ...~.$ ':~ ~- t ~~':_~.$-':,-- .: a '-.- m O r "'-""- v "" g ~~ --,. --'~1;:; ~..., ""'--~J." '"'.t .Lt;.;4..~ ~ LI::.,.U ~J.J. u~ IV ;.. ~.J.

a cylinder.

1 This kind of volumetric determination is rather inaccurate,

but its results give an indication of the true ability to

:iJ exfoliate. During the measurement with the air comparison

pycnometer, the volume of a material is determined without" I its pore space accessible from outside. By means of this

second kind of volumetric measurement the volume of a material

,," I is determined together with its pores (because of the surface

". tension of water).

1 This second value is of economic importance since the quality

of vermiculites increases with their ability to exfoliate.'"

Finally, the volumes of the exfoliated portions have been

1 determined by pouring the material loosely into a cylinder.

Again, this kind of measurement is rather inaccurate but the

I results can certainly be used as a standard for the economic

value of the vermiculite which is often used as packing and

shock protecting material.I -

"

II

II"

.f

,,-..~

.I .-5 -!-..

1 ~..:

I 3. RESULTS

After drying, the weight of sample R 54 had sunk from 2401 gI to 1592 g ( = 66,3 %), that of R 55 from 1923 g to 1324 g

(= 68,8 %). The finest grained sieve fraction «0,25 rom) had

.1 17,25 wt.-% of the dried sample R 54 and 22,6 wt.-% of thedried sample R 55 (table 1).

.I Thus only 83 % (R 54) respectively 77 % (R 55) of the samples

have been used for the further investigations.

1 The relations of the sievefractions to each other is almost

I the same before and after heating for 5 minutes (table 1).

In R 54 the fractions 2 -1 mm and 1 -0,5 mm are largest,

I whereas in R 55 the fraction 1 -0,5 mm clearly has the

largest weight percentage (table 3). The fraction with the-.largest grains () 2 mm)has the smallest weight percentage in1 both samples ( 4 resp. 3 wt.-%).

(. The volume of R 54 grew for 48,8 % after heating (from

494 cm3 to 735,2 cm3); the volume of R 55 grew for 47,6 %

I (from 365,8 cm3 to 540,1 cm3; table 2).

I The largest volume of the exfoliated portions is reached by

the fraction 2 -1 mm in R 54 (18 % of the total volume of

i the heated sample;cf. table 4). In R 55 the exfoliated! (. particles of the fraction 1 -0,5 mm reach the largest

volume (14 vol.-% of the total heated sample; cf. table 4).

I Table 5 and Fig. 1 show the volumes of all exfoliated por-

I tions, calculated for a weight of 10 grams of material. .

This table also contains the results of the volumetric

I. measurements in the water filled cylinder (i.e. volumes

III ., ~ -, '"

u."",._,

--II S

-6 -~

;-r

I -1;0'

I gained by removing of water). The values are the mean from

two measurements which showed strong volumetric variations.

I Since this kind of volumetry has a large error its results

are not shown in tables 2 and 4. But the results reveal the

I exfoliability of the vermiculites.

Table 5 also presents the volumes of the exfoliated portions

I which had been loosely poured in a cylinder. This kind of

measurements has a large error, too, since the volumes

I decrease strongly when the cylinder is shaken. But neverthe-

less the results are reproduced in this report since they

, I are an expression of the quality of the vermiculites (cf.:

chapter 2).

I Table 5 shows that the exfoliated portions of the largest

fractions (>2 mm) possess the strongest exfoliability. The

I finest grained fractions (0,5 -0,25 mm) contain the least

exfoliable vermiculites. (One must consider that the errors

I of measurement are larger for the coarser grained than for

the finer fractions).

II 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

I Gillson, J.L., ed. (1960) Industrial minerals and rocks.

(nonmetallics other than fuels) 3rd ed. Seeley W. Mudd serJ.es.

I The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Pe-

troleum Engineers, New York, 934 p-I .

I £. v. ?~~ ,.:.--

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