the evaporites ©2010 dr. b. c. paul acknowledgement is given to industrial minerals sme,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Evaporites
©2010 Dr. B. C. Paul
Acknowledgement is given to Industrial Minerals SME, Nevada-outback-gems.com, mindat.org, minerals information institute,
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
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%
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 Uses
Boron Uses
76
5
4
3 12
Glass+Ceramics
Soap/Bleach
Agriculture
Enamel/Glaze
Other
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
Boron Production and Reserves
Boron Production and Reserves
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Produc
tion
Reserv
es/3
0
Met
ric
ton
nes
Bo
ron
Oxi
de
Turkey
Russia
Peru
Kazakhastan
Iran
China
Chile
Bolivia
Argentina
United States
What is Boron Worth?
Boron Oxide Price $2009
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
1900
1908
1916
1924
1932
1940
1948
1956
1964
1972
1980
1988
1996
2004
$200
9/lb
Boron Oxide Price $2009
Around 50 cents per pound.
A Common Evaporite HaliteNaCl S.G. 2.1 - 2.6 Hardness 2 - 2½ Color Colorless, white, red, yellow, orange, pink, green, blue, violet, gray
Salt Uses
Uses of Salt
43
35
8
333 3 2 Highway Salt
Chemicals
Stores
Agriculture
Food
Industrial
Water Treatment
Other
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
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
Salt ProductionSalt Production
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
1
Th
ou
sa
nd
s o
f M
etr
ic T
on
ne
s
Others
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Spain
Poland
Netherlands
Mexico
India
Germany
France
China
Chile
Canada
Brazil
Australia
United States
Reserves are consideredinexhaustible
What is Salt Worth?
Value of Salt
00.005
0.010.015
0.020.025
0.030.035
19
00
19
05
19
10
19
15
19
20
19
25
19
30
19
35
19
40
19
45
19
50
19
55
19
60
19
65
19
70
19
75
19
80
19
85
19
90
19
95
20
00
20
05
$2
00
9/l
b
Value of Salt
Around 1.5 to 2 cents per pound
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%
Uses of Potash
Potash Uses
Fertilizer
Chemical
Production and ReservesProduction and Reserves of
Potash
05000
100001500020000250003000035000400004500050000
Pro
du
ctio
n
Re
serv
es/
20
0Th
ou
sa
nd
s o
f M
etr
ic T
on
ne
s
Other
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Spain
Russia
Jordan
Isreal
Germany
China
Chile
Canada
Brazil
Belarus
United States
Reserve base isUnusually largeCompared toProduction.
What is Potash Worth?Value of Potash
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
1900
1912
1924
1936
1948
1960
1972
1984
1996
2008
$2
00
9/lb
Potash Price
Around 10 centsPer pound ofK2O
Specialized Evaporites 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
Locations for Deposits
Most of World Reserves
Production and ResourcesProduction and Reserves of Soda
Ash
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Production Reserves/1000
Th
ou
sa
nd
s M
etr
ic T
on
ne
s
Other
Uganda
Turkey
Mexico
Kenya
Botswana
United States
What is Trona Used for?Soda Ash Uses
48
29
10
4
3
2
2
2
Glass
Chemicals
Soap
Stores
Misc
Flue Gas
Paper
WaterTreatment
What is it Worth?Soda Ash Price
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
19
20
19
31
19
42
19
53
19
64
19
75
19
86
19
97
20
08
$2
00
9/lb
So
diu
m C
arb
on
ate
Soda AshPrice
Around 5Cents a pound