Major Minerals Research Articles

Geochemical Characteristics of Rare-Metal, Rare-Dispersed, and Rare-Earth Elements and Depositional Environments in the Shanxi Formation Coal, Huainan Coalfield, Anhui, China

Coal, being one of the major energy sources for power generation, contains several critical trace elements. There is a growing scarcity and expense of these critical elements as a result of the increased demand and limitation of mining sources. To explore the geochemical characteristics of the rare-metal, rare-dispersed (scattered), and rare-earth elements (TREs) in coal, 25 coal seam samples of the Shanxi Formation in the Huainan coalfield were collected. The major element oxides, minerals, and TREs were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed that the coal of the Shanxi Formation had ultra-low moisture and low ash yield and was medium-high-volatility with low sulfur content and high calorific value. Concerning minerals, the coal was mainly composed of kaolinite, illite, quartz, calcite, dolomite, and pyrite. Compared with Chinese coal and world hard coal, rare-metal element Li and rare-dispersed element Se were enriched, whereas Ga and Ta were only slightly enriched. The average content of REYs was 51.34 μg/g, which is lower than the average content of REYs in Chinese coal. It has the enrichment characteristics of light REYs. In the vertical direction, the content of most TREs was higher in the roof and floor of the coal seam and the parting, indicating that the sedimentary microenvironment plays an important role in controlling the migration and enrichment of elements. The experimental results of sequential chemical extraction and correlation analysis showed that the TREs in the Shanxi Formation coal mainly exist in a residual and carbonate bound state, and occur in clay minerals and carbonate minerals. The enrichment of Se may be due to its high organic form ratio. The C-value, B content, w(Sr)/w(Ba), and REY geochemical parameters indicated that the Shanxi Formation Coal seam was developed in a transitional, semi-saline, deltaic sedimentary environment. With their development affected by seawater, REYs in coal are greatly supplied by terrigenous clastics. The complex sedimentary environment is an important reason for the varying occurrence states of TREs in the Shanxi Formation coals.

Health assessment of industrial ecosystems of Isfahan (Iran) using phytomonitoring: Chemometric, micromorphology, phytoremediation, air pollution tolerance and anticipated performance indices

The present study evaluated the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), anticipated performance index (API), enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), and metal accumulation index (MAI) in grown plants of industrial ecosystems of Najafabad County near the Isfahan megacity (Iran). The existence of major, minor and trace mineral elements, physiological (pH of leaf extract and relative water content) and biochemical (proline, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll content) factors in Clerics siliquastrum, Melia azedarach, Caesalpinia gilliesii, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Morus alba were evaluated to assess their suitability for phytoremediation and/or phytomonitoring. The results showed that M. azedarach and E. camaldulensis had higher APTI and API values and were categorized in the tolerant plant group. The most important factors influencing the APTI of R. pseudoacacia, E. camaldulensis, C. gilliesii, M. azedarach, C. siliquastrum and M. alba were ascorbic acid (88.1%), the pH of leaf extract (45.7%), ascorbic acid (78.9%), the pH of leaf extract (98.8%), the total chlorophyll content (56.1%), and the relative water content (54.6%), respectively. Proline showed a strong and negative correlation with the APTI (r = −0.72). Reducing sugar showed a moderate and negative correlation with the total chlorophyll (r = −0.63). The PLI showed a high pollution load for all species, especially M. azedarach. The highest values of EF, BAC, and MAI were obtained in C. siliquastrum (117.46), R. pseudoacacia (417.79), and M. azedarach (8.92), respectively. Based on the overall results of this study, it is recommended that M. azedarach be used as a tolerant species for green space development and C. siliquastrum and R. pseudoacacia as both passive bio-monitors and bio-mitigators in industrial ecosystems.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS, PETROGRAPHIC STUDY AND GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF PAN-AFRICAN GRANITOID, GUSAU SHEET 54SE NORTHWEST NIGERIA

The study area is underlain by migmatite-gneiss quartzite rock suits with infolding mica schist which is intruded by batholitic Pan-African granitoids. Petrographic studies revealed quartz, orthoclase, hornblende and biotite as major minerals which are common to all members of rock units. The geochemical result of gneissic rock shows SiO2 content that range between 77.04%.wt to 80%.wt while mica schist depicts SiO2 content of 74.42 to 77.42%.wt. this implies silicious protolith for the both rock units. On the discrimination diagram gneiss and mica schist plot mainly in High-K calc-alkaline to calc-alkaline fields. Whereas, bivariate diagram of TiO2 versus SiO2 revealed that both gneissic rock and mica schist have sedimentary progenitors. High Rb, La and Th and low Nb, Sr, and Ti values shown by both gneiss and mica schist are compatible with typical crustal melts and suggest evolution from partial melting of crustal materials. The Pan-African granitoids has similar geochemical relationships. Geochemical studies shows that the rock units have limited variation in their major element compositions and give a decrease in CaO wt. %, and increasing Ba/Sr, Zr/Y ratios, K2O wt. % with increasing silica. The rocks are distinctly peraluminous, calc-alkaline as they plot in the High-K calc-alkaline and calc-alkaline, syn-collision fields on various discrimination diagrams. The characteristics suggest that the Basement rocks of the study area were formed from the fractional crystallization of a calc-alkaline magma in a syn- collision tectonic terrain.

Rare earth element signature modifications induced by differential acid alteration of rocks in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

The efficient use of REE as tracers of weathering processes requires further data acquisition to establish robust connections between mechanisms, mineral assemblages and REE concentration patterns. Here, results are provided corresponding to rocks from four locations in the Iberian Pyrite Belt that were altered with different intensity by sulfuric fluids. The acidic alteration was mild (pH 5–7) in Calañas and El Villar, while strong (pH below 3 to 5) in Quebrantahuesos and Tharsis. The main REE reservoir before alteration were phyllosilicates (and plagioclase/feldspar in El Villar only). Mild alteration generated mainly kaolinite while illite and some plagioclase/feldspar were preserved. Mildly altered rocks approximately preserved the relative REE concentrations of their precursors, interpreted as indicating a low fluid/rock ratio environment where binding sites in minerals outnumbered those in fluids. Strong acid alteration produced alunite, jarosite, beudantite and goethite, with partial illite preservation. Where illite and/or goethite were major minerals, this alteration generated REE patterns enriched in light REE over heavy REE or did not modify the relative REE concentrations of the original rock. However, samples where REE concentrations were controlled by alunite or jarosite had LREE > > HREE. In alunite the maximum concentration corresponded to Nd and Sm. In jarosite concentrations decreased from La to Lu, except that a positive Eu anomaly was preserved from the precursor. These REE concentration patterns are interpreted as due to crystallographic factors, controlled by the best fit of REE with charge 3+ in the 12-fold coordination site of K in jarosite and alunite. This site is larger in jarosite and fits La best, whereas the smaller site in alunite best fits Nd and Sm. Goethite REE signature is variable, perhaps due to two formation routes, (1) silicates ➔ goethite and (2) silicates ➔ jarosite ➔ goethite. Our interpretations of REE concentration in alunite, jarosite and goethite are novel and provide new routes to further develop REE as tracers of acid alteration processes.

3D modeling of detachment faults in the Jiaodong gold province, eastern China: A Bayesian inference perspective and its exploration implications

The world-class Jiaodong gold province, which is located in the Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern North China Craton, hosts > 5,000 t of gold resources. The major gold mineralization in this area is mainly controlled by NE-NNE faults, such as the Zhaoping, Jiaojia, and Sanshandao faults. While intensive efforts have been devoted to the investigation of the architecture of the three detachment faults, the fault geometry at depth remains highly uncertain and hotly controversial due to the scarcity of observations, non-uniqueness of the geophysical inversion, and underutilization of the geological knowledge. Along these lines, the deep three-dimensional (3D) geometry of detachment faults from a Bayesian inference perspective is reconstructed in this work. In the Bayesian framework, the multi-source information and the prior geological knowledge are combined into an integrated probabilistic model and the posterior probability distribution of detachment faults is inferred. The resulting posterior distribution permits an estimation of the uncertainty (information entropy) of the 3D fault geometry and the expected shape undulations compared with a prior reference model. More specifically, it demonstrates that specific and detailed 3D models of faults could be inferred by tracking surfaces with maximum information entropy of the geological units. The reconstructed models exhibit detailed 3D geometry of the fault surfaces and their reliability is validated by a recent drill hole at ∼−2,300 m depth. In terms of the reconstructed 3D models, the dip variations are analyzed and the possible stress directions at deep zones of the three faults are discussed. The shape features of the reconstructed faults are also quantified, which indicates that the fault sections with a steep-to-gentle transition in dip angle are closely associated with the gold mineralization. The 3D gold prospectivity mapping with the spatial features as predictor variables, highlights seven deep prospecting targets, which are generally consistent with the gently dipping zones and beneath the known orebodies.

Interfacial Engineering of Particulate & Surfactant Systems for Enhanced Performance in Industrial Applications

Particulate and surfactant systems are an integral part either in processing or product lines in essentially every major industry, including Energy and Minerals, Pharmaceutical, Agriculture & Food, Microelectronics, Healthcare, Cosmetics, Consumer Products, and Analytical Instrumentation & Services. In most applications, product and process specifications depend on the synergistic or competitive interactions between the particles and reagent schemes. The primary goal of our research efforts has been to generate the structure-property-performance correlations-based knowledge and technology platforms for industry to develop more sustainable products and processes. Engineering the physicochemical/mechanical properties of surfaces, particles, and self-assembling surfactant systems enables their enhanced performance in industrial applications. Specifically, understanding and control of the nano and atomic-scale forces between particles and synthesis of functionalized particles form the foundation for targeted contributions in biomedical, advanced materials and minerals, sensor, and coating technologies. A synoptic overview of selected projects is presented in this review. Additional details can be found in the topic-specific references listed at the end of this manuscript.

Lateral variations in the Hosen 8‐2 vein in the Hishikari deposit, Japan: Implications for high Au‐grade zone

AbstractLateral sampling of each blasting interval (~ 2.6 m) along a 79 m strike length was conducted for the Hosen 8‐2 vein on the −5 ML (mining level, meters relative to sea level) of the Main ore zone in the Hishikari epithermal Au deposit, Kagoshima, Japan. The horizontal variation of mineral textures, bulk chemical compositions, and fluid inclusion temperatures and apparent salinity of ore fluids were determined. The major gangue minerals of the quartz veins studied include quartz and adularia with minor amounts of calcite and smectite. The major ore minerals include electrum, galena, and sphalerite with minor pyrite, petzite, and hessite. Electrum commonly occurs in a discrete band with microcrystalline quartz, granular adularia, and smectite. The electrum‐bearing band is followed by tabular adularia, and finally by granular or comb quartz. Mineral textures that indicate high degrees of supersaturation with respect to amorphous silica (presently quartz with microcrystalline/mosaic and feathery textures) and adularia (with tabular, rhombic, and granular textures) were common throughout the vein strike. Bulk chemical analyses indicate that Au grade is positively correlated with Ag, Bi, Pb, and Te contents. A bonanza zone with Au grades up to 10,800 ppm occurs in the central part of the Hosen 8‐2 vein on the −5 ML, and is associated with high adularia content, calculated as adularia / (quartz + adularia). The wide lateral variation in the geochemical composition contrasts with the consistent association of electrum with microcrystalline quartz, granular adularia, and smectite throughout the Hosen 8‐2 vein on the −5 ML. Fluid inclusion microthermometry of primary and pseudosecondary inclusions in quartz and adularia yielded histogram modes of homogenization temperature between 160 and 240°C; the most frequent mode is 200–210°C, with most data within ±10°C from this value. The maximum ice‐melting temperature of most samples excluding late comb quartz is −1.5°C, which is equivalent to an apparent salinity of 2.6 wt% NaCl eq. The wide variation in ice‐melting temperatures and apparent salinities (up to 5.2 wt% NaCl eq.) may be due to dissolved CO2 in the fluids, while the sharp decrease in apparent salinity with temperature decrease indicates CO2 loss due to fluid boiling during vein formation. The intimate association of electrum with microcrystalline quartz that recrystallized from amorphous silica indicate sharp boiling and vapor loss as the primary mechanism of Au deposition in the Hosen 8‐2 vein.

Thermal magnetic analysis on iron ores and banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Hamersley Province: Implications of origins of magnetic minerals and iron ores

<abstract> <p>The genesis models of the iron-ores hosted in banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia have been debated since the iron-ore deposits were discovered in the 1960s. The existing models considered the few physicochemical conditions for the iron-ore enrichment from BIFs. This study incorporates the latest research outcomes in conversions among the major magnetic minerals under different physicochemical conditions with the thermal magnetic analysis for BIFs and iron-ores collected from the Hamersley Province to fill the gap in knowledge highlighted by existing studies of the iron ores and BIFs. The results indicate that the high-grade hematite ores might have been undergone a physicochemical process under hydrothermal conditions between 120 ℃ and 220 ℃ during the major stage of enrichment from the original BIFs in the Brockman Iron Formation. Such physicochemical conditions would require either that the BIF units were buried 4000–5000 m underground with tilted broad channels formed by large-scale deformation in the region that facilitates hydrothermal reactions and leaching by the fluids flowing down deep to 4000–5000 m, somehow similar to the deep-seated supergene model proposed in previous works, or that the BIF units were still buried but the hydrothermal fluids coming up from deeper sources spread widely over the broad channels to ensure the high-grade hematite ores are consistently uniform over the entire deposit. The large-scale martite-goethite deposits in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation might be derived from multiple supergene phases from hematite-martite ores below 100 ℃ in the natural process of oxidization near surface, somewhat similar to the existing model for the channel iron deposits. Magnetite contained within current BIFs and iron ores was least likely derived from primary hematite in BIFs.</p> </abstract>

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Spatial and Vertical Distribution of Radiological, Mineralogical and Magnetic Parameters of Beach Sediments from North East Coast of Tamilnadu State, India

The γ-ray spectroscopic technique has been effectively utilized to know the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in different depths of north-east coast beaches of Tamilnadu state of India. The measured activity concentrations were different while compare from surface to second feet depth. FTIR exhibits the presence of eleven minerals such as quartz, feldspar in different phases, kaolinite, gibbsite, calcite, organic carbon, aragonite, palygorskite and hematite in all feet sediments. Extinction coefficient calculation shows that the amount major minerals is in the order of kaolinite < microcline feldspar < quartz. Different minerals were identified through XRD analysis. Multivariate statistical was also adopted well and the results confirm that the magnetic susceptibility play a major role in controlling the present radioactivity values. The activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K for >125 μm grain sized samples are significantly lowered when compared with the respective values of the bulk samples.

Development of low-phytate maize inbred lines through marker-assisted introgression of lpa1

Context Phytic acid is the major storage form of phosphorus in cereals and is considered an anti-nutritional factor because it chelates major mineral micronutrient cations, resulting in micronutrient malnutrition in humans. For monogastric animals fed maize (Zea mays L.) grains, the stored phosphorus does not release into the digestive tract, leading to phosphorus deficiency and environmental pollution. Aims The aim of the study was to develop maize lines with a lower level of phytic acid that might substantially enhance the nutritional value of maize. Methods The lpa1 mutant allele conferring low phytic acid was transferred into the parental lines of popular maize hybrid DMH 121 (i.e. BML 6 and BML 45) through marker-assisted backcross breeding. Foreground selection was performed using a co-dominant single nucleotide polymorphism marker through a high-resolution melting approach, and background selection was undertaken using 50–55 polymorphic sequence-tagged microsatellite site markers. Key results Near-isogeneic lines were produced with >90% recurrent parental genome and reduction of phytic acid content by up to 44–56% compared with the original lines. Conclusions The near-isogeneic lines carrying lpa1 can be used to reconstitute DHM 121 with low phytate content. Implications The low-phytate maize hybrids produced can be useful in reducing micronutrient malnutrition in humans, as well as environmental pollution.

FERROMANGANESE CRUSTS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC

The morphology, mineral and chemical composition (48 elements) of ferromanganese crusts from the northern part of the Emperor Ridge (Detroit, Hanzei, Suizei guyots), the Amlia, Rat and Stalemate fault zones at the north west of the Pacific Plate, as well as volcanic uplifts of the Kuril and Aleutian island arcs were studied. The contents of major, trace and rare-earth elements were determined in the major mineral fractions of ferromanganese crusts (carbonate, oxide manganese, hydroxide ferruginous) which served as sorbents of cobalt and other strategic metals, as well as in the residual fraction. It was established that hydrogenic crusts containing strategic metals that indicate potential economic significance are widespread in the North Pacific. Criteria are proposed for evaluating the contribution of various metal sources to the formation of crusts, which can also be used in the study of other similar objects.

Tholeiitic to calc-alkaline and alkaline volcanisms in an extensional arc setting of a Tethyan ophiolite: insights from small-scale compositional and temporal transitions from the Dali sector (Armenia)

• Dali's sector shows a transition from island-arc magmatism to more alkaline volcanism. • Alkaline lavas comprise E-MORB, transitional calc-alkaline basalts and atypical OIB. • The transition to alkaline lavas occurred in the Tithonian–Valanginian time interval. • The diversity of magmatic affinities suggests an extensional oceanic arc setting. New field and petrographic observations, combined with whole rock and mineral geochemical analyses are applied on volcanic rocks present in the Dali sector, east of Lake Sevan (Armenia). A small-scale sampling of the volcanic sequence allows us to identify, for the first time in Armenian ophiolites, two groups of lavas (groups B and C1) stratigraphically and geochemically intermediate between previously recognized arc tholeiite (group A) and OIB-like (group C2) basalts. Their age is constrained by two distinct intercalated radiolarite sequences, which were dated as Tithonian – Valanginian. Group B lavas are low-K tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites derived from an enriched mantle source (La N /Yb N 1.8–6.1; Sm N /Yb N 1.3–2.4; Nb/Yb 2.0–6.7). The composition of their clinopyroxenes ranges from Ti-poor augite to Ti-rich diopside augite in correlation with higher La/Yb and Nb/Yb ratios in bulk rocks. Group C1 lavas are basaltic andesites containing Ti and Na-rich amphiboles (kaersutites, hastingsites) as major mineral phases. Three analyzed diopside-amphibole-porphyritic samples are alkaline trachybasalts (La N /Yb N 20–21; Nb/Yb 16–18). Both the group B and C1 lavas exhibit variable, although moderate, enrichments in Th/Yb for given Nb/Yb ratios and Nb negative anomalies in normalized multi-elements patterns (Nb/La 0.53–1.02), which are not correlated with the degree of enrichment of their mantle sources. Our results suggest that transitional and OIB-like volcanic lavas were generated by low- (group B) and very low- (groups C1–C2) melting of a heterogeneous mantle source in an oceanic arc–back-arc system in extension, possibly in relation with slab break-off.

Why an indirect estimate of the unjacketed pore modulus may not work

The unjacketed pore modulus is a measure of changes in pore volume due to the variation in pore pressure for constant Terzaghi effective pressure. In the oil and gas industry, this parameter is commonly used in linking the undrained bulk modulus of a porous saturated rock to the drained bulk modulus and the properties of the fluid and solid components through Gassmann’s equation. For an ideal porous rock, the unjacketed pore modulus should be identical to the solid bulk modulus of the major mineral constituent. While direct measurements confirm this prediction, previous indirect estimates suggest that this parameter may have values close to the bulk modulus of the fluid rather than the bulk modulus of the grains. These indirect results demonstrate that the estimate of the undrained bulk modulus, due to substitution of different fluids in the rock, can change considerably if the unjacketed pore modulus is equal to the bulk modulus of the fluid. In this paper, we first briefly provide the results of the direct approach and then present laboratory measurements of Skempton’s pore pressure coefficient for a quartz arenite sandstone and use these data to indirectly estimate the unjacketed pore modulus. We show that the difficulties associated with the measurement of the Skempton coefficient clearly contribute to the underestimation from the indirect approach.

Exploring the characterization, liberation and flotation response of a Nigerian low-grade copper ore

This study explores the characterization, liberation and flotation response of low-grade copper ore from Anka area, Zamfara state Nigeria. The ore was crushed, milled and sieved in accordance with BS 410 standard. It was characterized with XRD, XRF, SEM-EDS and AAS. Froth flotation was carried out with varying %solids, pH, retention time and collector dosages using SEX and sodium oleate. Particle size distribution of the ore shows its economic liberation between -150 and +106 µm while 80% passing corresponds to 175.7 µm using the Gaudin Schuhmann equation. However, according to metallurgical balance calculation, 63 µm proved to have the highest metal content. Identified peaks of the copper ore by XRD revealed the presence of pyrite and chalcopyrite as the major mineral content at 47 and 36%, respectively, while other elements were present in traces. XRF shows Fe and Cu as the major elements and others in traces. Morphology, according to SEM-EDS, revealed that Fe is the major impurity while the presence of Cu and S confirmed chalcopyrite is present in the ore minerals. AAS shows an average of 25.87% Cu and 32% Fe in the ore. Optimum recoveries of copper were recorded at 30% solids, pH of 8, 30 minutes retention time. The highest recovery of 95.94% was recorded with SEX at 0.25 mol/dm3, while recoveries were lower with PAX, the highest recovery being 33% at 0.20 mol/dm3. 0.25 mol/dm3 of SEX recorded the highest yield and enrichment ratio of 40.38 and 2.38, respectively.

SEDIMENTARY MANGANESE DEPOSITS IN CARAJÁS, BRAZIL

The Carajás Mineral Province in Brazil is actually one of the most important in the world because it contains world-class mineral deposits (Fe, Cu, Au, Ni and Mn), partly enriched by lateritic weathering (Fe, Mn, Ni). It carries at least four manganese ore deposits: Azul, Buritirama, Sereno-Conquista and Buriti, of these Azul and Buritirama are productive mines. The Azul deposit is the earliest known and was initially considered as typically lateritic. Further studies show that much of the reserves are classically associated with carbonaceous gray to black mineralized shales and enriched in manganese oxyhydroxides, where cryptomelane is the major ore mineral, enveloped by thick packets of red siltstones and sandstones of lower age Proterozoic (around 2.1 Ga). The mineralogical composition of rocks and ore, isotopic data, abundance of carbonaceous organic matter and the presence of stromatolite structures show deposition in a shallow platform, where the source of manganese and associated metals were mainly of ocean hydrothermal origin, while the sediments of the rocks would have a main continental source from Archean rocks. Rhodochrosite is restricted and diagenetic, likely pyrite. Tectonic deformations reached the whole package and provided environment and structures for remobilization and reprecipitation of Mn-oxyhydroxides of high content and crystallinity. These two types of ores were the source of lateritic ore and colluvionary, already practically depleted

The Contents of Some Essential Major and Trace Elements in Various Types of Processed Milk Products Collected from Benghazi Markets

Milk is an important food; it supplies our body with the essential mineral’s requirements. In this study, some major (Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) and minor (copper, iron, zinc) essential minerals were determined in seventy-eight random processed milk samples. These samples were collected from different markets in Benghazi city, Libya during 2017. The order of major essential elements concentrations in all milk samples was calcium> phosphorous> magnesium. The mean concentrations of calcium were recorded at 4262 ±2771mg/kg, 5006 ±896mg/kg, 1276 ±319mg/kg and 1231 ±154mg/kg, while mean concentrations of magnesium were 560.1 ±82mg/kg, 419.4 ±153mg/kg, 249 ±7.1mg/kg, 127.7 ±21mg/kg, in powdered, infant formula, evaporated and sterilized milk samples, respectively. Phosphorus concentration varied between 3322-7692mg/kg, 2622-5490mg/kg, 1381-4720mg/kg and 1049-2326mg/kg in powdered, infant formula, evaporated and sterilized milk, respectively. The contents of trace essential minerals, included copper, iron and zinc, were detected in all collected samples. The highest copper content was recorded in powder milk, with a mean concentration 2.13 ±0.84mg/kg, followed by infant formula products, with mean concentration 1.15±0.95mg/kg. The mean concentrations of zinc and iron in milk powder products were detected at 33.48 ±17.4mg/kg and 27.60mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of minor element in evaporated and sterilized milk samples were in concentration lower than 1mg/kg, except zinc in evaporated milk, which varied between 2.80-5.77mg/kg. The contents of essential minerals were agreed with some values that recorded in published results, for same products of processed milk.

Exfoliation characteristics of Swat vermiculite clay and its application in the preparation of lightweight composite panels

Vermiculite is a natural clay that has significant exfoliation characteristics. The exfoliated vermiculite has much lighter density and water retaining properties that makes it suitable for lightweight construction, insulation, and horticulture applications. In the present study, vermiculite ore of Swat region, Pakistan was subjected to exfoliation in a rotary kiln. The exfoliated vermiculite was characterized in detail for physical, morphological, and mineralogical properties, before and after exfoliation. The optimum temperature where lowest density was observed for various size fractions of exfoliated vermiculite was 750 °C. Vermiculite, hydrobiotite and mica were found to be the major mineral phases in the raw and exfoliated vermiculite. The exfoliated vermiculite was then blended with unsaturated polyester resin in the resin: vermiculite ratios of 65:35, 60:40, 55:45, and 50:50, to produce lightweight exfoliated vermiculite composite samples. Analysis of physical and mechanical properties of the composite samples like density, water absorption, compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity showed that a suitable resin: vermiculite ratio of lightweight exfoliated vermiculite composite panel may be selected for a particular application.

Major and trace mineral composition of milk from lactating women following vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets.

Approximately one-in-ten reproductive age adults in the USA follow a plant-based diet, yet there is limited information on the influence of vegan and vegetarian diets on the mineral composition of breast milk. This study explored the major and trace mineral composition in breast milk and associations with maternal diet patterns. We used a cross-sectional design to collect a single sample of breast milk from individuals following vegan (n 23), vegetarian (n 19) and omnivore (n 21) diet patterns. Plant-based diet (n 42) was defined as following either vegan or vegetarian diets. Sixteen minerals were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Data were evaluated using traditional statistical techniques and five different machine learning approaches. The distribution of Se (median; quartile 1 and 3) was significantly different between groups (vegetarians 21, 18-26 µg/l; vegans 19, 18-25 µg/l and omnivores 17, 14-20 µg/l; P = 0·007) using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Machine learning techniques also identified Se as a potential biomarker for differentiating breast milk by maternal diet pattern. Individuals following a plant-based diet generally had a lower BMI, higher breast milk Se and lower breast milk I and Fe concentrations compared with those following omnivore diets. This suggests that maternal dietary pattern (plant-based v. omnivore) may be helpful clinical information to consider when caring for the breast-feeding dyad, with the strongest evidence related to differences in Se concentration.

Assessment of aroma profiles and mineral content of buffalo yogurt marketed in Cukurova region of Turkey

The purpose of this study was identification of some chemical compositions, mineral content and aroma profile of buffalo yogurt samples which were collected from Çukurova markets. For this purpose, some chemical analyses of 20 buffalo yogurt samples obtained from Mersin and Adana provinces were performed. As a result of the chemical analysis, the average dry matter content of buffalo yogurts was 19.37%, fat content was 6.54%, protein content was 4.10% and ash content was 1.37%. Aroma profile was evaluated by GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry) using SPME (Solid-Phase Microextraction) technique. A total of 35 volatile compounds were detected including four aldehydes, four ketones, six acids, seven alcohols, four esters and ten miscellaneous compounds. Alcohols were the largest class of volatile compounds while acid and ketone groups were the major compounds in buffalo yogurt. The analysis of minor mineral content was performed by LA-ICP/MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometer) and major minerals were detected by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer). According to the results of mineral analysis, the average Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn levels were found to be 900.52 mg/L, 1678.18 mg/L, 729.80 mg/L, 325.78 mg/L, 0.28 mg/L, 7.60 mg/L, 0.39 mg/L, and 24.64 mg/L, respectively

A Comprehensive Chemical and Nutritional Analysis of New Zealand Yacon Concentrate

Global interest in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is growing due to its potential as a functional food, attributable to its unique profile of bioactives and high fructooligosaccharide (FOS) content, which vary between cultivars. Our objective was to conduct a comprehensive chemical and nutritional analysis of New Zealand yacon concentrate (NZYC)-a sweet syrup derived from the roots of cultivar 'New Zealand', which was first grown in the 1980s. The major minerals in NZYC were potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. The FOS content ranged from 17.6 to 52.7 g/100g. Total phenolic content ranged from 565 to 785 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g; chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were the major phenolic compounds. The major amino acids were L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, L-aspartic acid, and asparagine. The major organic acids were citric, malic, quinic, and fumaric acids. Antioxidant activity ranged from 1084.14 to 3085.78 mg Trolox equivalents per 100 g depending on the assay used. The glycaemic index (GI) value was 40 ± 0.22, classifying it as a low-GI food. These results support the classification of NZYC as a nutraceutical food product for future diet therapy applications.