Geostatistical study of the feldspar content and quality of a granite deposit

Abstract

In order to characterise the saleable feldspar in a granite deposit, a methodology was developed in accordance with the exploitation process. This consisted of mechanically extracting the surface layer of the batholith and separating the feldspar from the quartz using the granulometric separation method, given that the size of the grains of the feldspar is greater than that of quartz. Following washing, grinding and magnetic separation of the feldspar in order to eliminate the ferromagnesium minerals, the saleable feldspar was characterised in terms of the factors that determine its market value, namely, its content in Al 2O 3, SiO 2, Na 2O and K 2O. Following the opening of prospecting pits in the granite massif, samples were analysed in the laboratory using three different granulometric cuts and by reproducing the treatment process. The values for the quality variables of saleable feldspar were obtained, and the results were interpolated to the entire deposit using the kriging method. In order to summarise the information from the above-mentioned variables, a quality index was constructed using multivariate statistics and by employing market criteria, and subsequently, the values of the index were interpolated to the entire deposit using bidimensional kriging. The map of saleable quality feldspar from the deposit permits both affirmation of the treatment process yield for each granulometric cut and the planning of extraction from the deposit to obtain a homogeneous quality in the saleable feldspar.