Abstract
Traditional disaggregation methods for mineral separation of sedimentary rocks are not appropriate for shales with complex mineralogy and grain sizes. In this study, we improved the ultrasonic disaggregation and stepwise separation method for minerals in shales, and applied it to analyse shale samples from the Silurian Longmaxi Formation of the Sichuan Basin, China. The Longmaxi Formation shales are mainly composed of clay minerals, quartz, calcite, dolomite, albite, and K-feldspar, and are cemented by SiO2. This method processes shale samples as ultrasonic disaggregation followed by stepwise separation of minerals using gravitational deposition and centrifugation. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images were obtained for different components of this ultrasonic disaggregation and stepwise separation method. Information obtained by this method can also be used to quantify the hydrodynamic forces acting on the Longmaxi Formation sediments during the syngenetic stage. [Received: October 25, 2018; Accepted: November 21, 2018]
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
