Nonmetallic Resources Research Articles

Carbonatites and related mineralization: an overview

Despite of their scarcity, carbonatites are documented from diverse geological settings, including cratons, continental rifts, orogenic belts and large igneous provinces, which range in age from the Archean to Recent. This study provides a concise overview of the evolution of igneous carbonatites, compiling data on their diverse characteristics and classifying them into mantle- and crustal-derived subtypes. Mantle-derived carbonatites, typically associated with alkaline rocks, are enriched in rare earth elements (REEs) and display geochemical affinities to the mantle. By contrast, crustal-derived carbonatites usually show much lower REE contents and crustal-affinity geochemical features similar to sedimentary carbonaceous rocks. Our study documents the significant economic potential of carbonatites that can host world-class deposits of REE, rare metals, alkaline earth metals and non-metallic resources. Typically, the key processes controlling REE mineralization include the low-degree melting of refertilized mantle, liquid immiscibility, fractional crystallization and hydrothermal fluids. Thus, carbonatites are of significant economic value due to the rapidly increasing global demand for REEs, mainly driven by the ‘green energy transition’.

Ecological problems of technogenically disturbed lands on the Absheron Peninsula


 
 
 The study area occupies an important place in our republic’s economic, political, and agricultural development. It is very important to properly use the land of an area with such an advantageous position. In addition to rich deposits of oil, gas, and gas condensate, the Absheron Peninsula has widespread mineral deposits (limestone, gypsum, crushed stone, bentonite, sand, etc.). Currently, the accumulation of waste in the territory of quarries and dumps after the extraction of non-metallic minerals on a large scale has led to the formation of technogenically disturbed areas. On the territory of the quarries themselves and adjacent lands, well-developed soils are widespread (irrigated ordinary gray soils with different granulometric composition and thickness, semi-desert gray-brown soils). During the extraction of deposits, as a result of the use of multiton machines and mechanisms, these lands were subjected to varying degrees of technogenic degradation, lost their fertility, and have not yet been studied either genetically or economically. Therefore, when writing this article, the main goal was a large-scale study of these lands and the development of recommendations for their restoration. Various scientists have conducted research on the geochronology of the formation of the soil and vegetation cover of the Absheron Peninsula, the degree of exposure to technogenic impacts, the development of a typological classification, mapping and modeling them to a fertile state in order to evaluate them in terms of biological productivity. However, it has not been possible to fully study the land and use it in different economic sectors. For this reason, an important topic of our time is touched upon in the presented article and is chosen again due to its relevance. As an object of study, the soil and vegetation cover of the territory where organic and non-metallic resources of the peninsula were mined, as well as lands that remained outside the scope of large-scale research, spread over the deformed areas of the Absheron Peninsula, were chosen. In order to give the research a greater scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical orientation, we laid soil-vegetation sections, described natural vegetation, and took sam- ples for laboratory analysis from reference places in the study area,. According to the analysis in the studied soils, it can be said that the amount of dry residue, which is considered the main indicator of the degree of salinity, ranges from 0.172-2.312% in the upper reaches of the accumulative-humus layers, which indicates that a small part of these soils has a predominantly weak medium, strong and very strong salinity.
 
 

Mineralogical Characteristic and Beneficiation Evaluation of a Ta-Nb-Li-Rb Deposit

In order to rationally develop and utilize a Ta–Nb–Li–Rb rare metal deposit in Jiangxi Province, the mineralogical characteristics of the ore, such as chemical composition, mineral composition, modes of occurrence of major elements, and dissemination characteristics of major minerals, were investigated in detail based on optical microscopy analysis, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, artificial panning, mineral liberation analysis, and electron probe microanalysis. The results reveal that the main useful elements in the ore are tantalum, niobium, lithium, and rubidium. Niobium and tantalum are mainly found in the mineral form of columbite. Columbite has particle sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 0.012 mm, with the most common sizes being 0.3 to 0.044 mm. Intergranular dispersion accounts for 73.92% of the embedding in columbite, whereas inclusions account for 26.08%. Lithium is found mostly in zinnwaldite, while rubidium is found primarily in feldspar and zinnwaldite, both in a homogenous distribution. The beneficiation evaluation of this ore was conducted based on the mineralogical characteristic, and it indicates that the tantalum-niobium–lithium–rubidium rare metal resources, as well as the feldspar and quartz non-metallic resources in the ore, can be effectively and comprehensively recovered using gravity, magnetic, and flotation separation methods. A staged grinding and separating process was adopted which could produce tantalum–niobium mineral concentrates (18.34% Ta2O5 at a recovery of 47.65% and 41.33% Nb2O5 at a recovery of 69.96%), zinnwaldite concentrate (2.41% Li2O and 0.80% Rb2O at a recovery of 81.82%) and other concentrates such as cassiterite, topaz, galena, sphalerite, and feldspar. This study provides suggestions for the rational development and utilization of the deposit and provides a reasonable level of recovery prediction.

Non-metallic resources of Azerbaijan

Non-metallic resources of Azerbaijan

Characterization of some nonmetallic resources in Bolivia: an overview of their potentiality and their application in specialized formulations

Bolivia has several nonmetallic occurrences widespread in the country. Unfortunately, they are poorly studied and slightly characterized. In the present work, several nonmetallic occurrences located in La Paz, Oruro, Potosí and Santa Cruz were studied. The results of the chemical and mineralogical characterization of the materials will be presented, in order to approach their applicability in specialized industrial formulations. A preliminary test of the final products besides an overview of their potentiality will be exposed and a current view of the commercialization as well.

A review on the utilization of natural graphite and graphite-based materials

As a type of inorganic non-metallic resources, the natural graphite has a small thermal expansion coefficient (1×10−6–30×10−6 K), a high coefficient of thermal conductivity (129 W m−1 K−1), high temperature resistances, excellent electrical conductivity (resistivity 8×10−6–13×10−6 Ω m), brilliant lubricity with a friction coefficient of 0.08–0.16, plastic feature, good chemical stability, excellent thermal shock resistance and other properties, which makes it well-known as one of the “universal” mineral materials. Graphite has been widely used in the machinery, metallurgy, petrochemicals, light industry, electronics, electrical appliances, military defenses, aerospace and other economic fields. China is one of the countries that have the largest resources of natural graphite in the world. Based on data of the graphite mineral resources, production/consumption, and the international trade of China during the past several years, this paper gives an overview of the development of graphite mining, technologies in purifying raw ores, comprehensive utilization of graphite, applications and the technological innovations of graphite-base materials. The most important three types of graphite products including the expanded graphite, the fluorinated graphite, and graphene (2D graphite) are particularly reviewed. The production process based imported graphite products, technological innovation and the gap between China and developed countries are analyzed, and the development of the comprehensive utilization of graphite resources is introduced. Finally, the future direction of the graphite science was proposed according to the disciplinary development in the non-metallic mineral materials.

A Comprehensive Outlook of Mining Industry in Jordan, Opportunities and Threats

Jordan’s mining sector is considered the cornerstone to the Jordanian economy. It plays a vital role in growth of many other important sectors in the economy and contributes to the Jordan’s standard of living. The mining industry in Jordan is dominated by the production of phosphate, potash, building and decoration stones, glass sand and other nonmetallic resources. Recently, Jordan has been ranked as the sixth largest producer and the second largest exporter of phosphate, the fourth largest producer and the second largest exporter of potash, and has the 5th largest oil-shale reserves in the world. Also, Jordan has sustainable amounts of uranium around 3% of the world resources. The main objective of this research is to focus on the present status of mining industry in Jordan with the aim to emphasis the most important industries, and its effect on the economy of Jordan in order to generate new wealth depends on its mineral endowment. A literature review has been carried out by reviewing the most published articles and the publicly available reports published by various Jordanian Institutions as well as from the private sector. The author reveals that there are many positive outlooks which are looming with an increasing domestic added value along with investing in other areas, such as feldspar, clays, travertine, gypsum, zirconium, uranium, copper and rare earth elements (REE). This requires activating the exploitation of many other untapped mineral resources in the country to achieve a progress that works for meeting the global great demands worldwide. In this context, successive governments have put effort into policies that promote and facilitate investment in the mining sector in Jordan. A comprehensive outlook of the mining sector in Jordan has been discussed in this article. The author also highlighted the opportunities and threats in this sector and more important dilemmas focused on what needs to be carried out by the Jordanian government, including important recommendations to encourage investment in this field and inspire investors in the mining industry in Jordan.

Study on Recycling and Utilization of Abandoned Mine Wastes

ABSTRACT In this investigation, reprocessing tests were carried out on various types of mine wastes including metal mine tailings in order to recover valuable metallic and non-metallic resources and to minimize long-term environmental damages. Reprocessing tests on mine wastes were carried out by employing various separation techniques such as gravity and magnetic separation, classification, etc. For example, silica minerals were recovered from the coal mine wastes by applying the selective crushing and grinding, and screening methods. In the treatment of tailings obtained from metal mines, processes were also developed to recover valuable metals and non-metallic resources, which will be used for aggregates, ceramic materials, foundry sands, and other construction applications. The processes we developed should meet the major conditions such as process with large-scale treatment, easy operation and low maintenance cost, no secondary pollution problems, etc. The future prospects with regard to the utilization of raw materials recovered from the mine wastes will also be discussed.

India's Mineral Potential: Present Status and Future Trends

This paper outlines the potential of India's mineral resources, which comprise a wide range of deposit types scattered across the subcontinent, within an area of 3,287,590 km2. The geological environment is extremely diverse, ranging from extensive Archean cratonic nuclei, with large areas of high-grade metamorphic rocks of lower-crustal provenance, to Proterozoic sedimentary basins and mobile belts, to Tertiary mountain ranges and Quaternary surficial deposits. The mineral endowment of these disparate regions includes world-class deposits of iron, manganese, and chromium, plus base metals (copper, lead, zinc), precious metals, and a spectrum of nonmetallic resources from bauxite to gemstones. India is a major exporter of Fe ore, Mn ore, chromite, mica, and granite. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the shores of India totals 2,014,900 km2, 61% the size of the landmass, holding additional potential for commodities such as heavy mineral sands (monazite, rutile, and other materials) and Mn and Co-rich ferromanganese nodules and crusts. A selective overview of India's mineral potential is provided with reference to 22 metals and groups of metals and 6 non-metallic commodity groups, excluding fuels. These are Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ag; Fe, Ti, V, and Mn; Cr, Ni, Co, and PGE; Au; Sn, W, and Mo; Nb, Ta, and Li; bauxite; U, Th, and the REE; barite, garnet, and graphite; and diamonds and colored gemstones. The effectiveness of the domestic mineral industry in locating and exploiting these resources varies greatly among commodities. Some sectors where the country was once a noted producer, such as diamonds and gold, have been eclipsed by major discoveries in other lands and by stagnant domestic output. In some cases, such as gold and nickel, known reserves and output are small compared to both the area of prospective terrain and high domestic demand (Table 1). Some indication is provided of likely future trends, in view of the Government of India's current initiatives to entice foreign investment in many sectors. This recently developed open policy extends to exploration and mining ventures, construction of power generation units, and modernization of existing industrial plant, transport, and communications. With an eye on this mineral-economic context, we present a synthesis of the issues faced by the mineral sector as it enters the 21st century.

A short review of Peru's mineral resources

Outlines the principal occurrences and evaluates the economic significance of petroleum, coal, phosphate and other nonmetallic resources, and gold (vein and placer deposits), vanadium, molybdenum, porphyry copper, iron, and polymetallic ores in Peru.