Quartz: Deposits, Mineralogy and Analytics
The book will include contributions of the state of the art of quartz raw materials (deposits and properties) and their analytics. The chapters are presented by leading scientists in the quartz field. The presentations cover the main interrelations betwee
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Petrological and Chemical Characterisation of High-Purity Quartz Deposits with Examples from Norway Axel Müller, Jan Egil Wanvik and Peter M. Ihlen
Abstract Demand for high-purity quartz (HPQ) is strongly increasing worldwide owing to growing consumption and an increasing range of high-technology applications. This study includes: (1) a refined definition of HPQ (2) a discussion of the impurities controlling the chemical quality of HPQ products and (3) descriptions of selected HPQ deposits in Norway, both economic and potentially economic examples. The suggested definition of HPQ proposes concentration limits for the most important detrimental elements. The maximum content of each element should be: Al\30 lg g-1, Ti\10 lg g-1, Na\8 lg g-1, K\8 lg g-1, Li \5 lg g-1, Ca \5 lg g-1, Fe \3 lg g-1, P \2 lg g-1 and B \1 lg g-1 whereby the sum of all elements should not exceed 50 lg g-1.Impurities within quartz crystals (intracrystalline impurities) control the quality of HPQ products because they cannot be removed by conventional processing. These impurities include (i) lattice-bound trace elements, (ii) submicron inclusions \1 lm, and (iii) mineral and fluid micro inclusions ([1 lm). Present knowledge about intracrystalline impurities in natural quartz is described. The methods used here for identification and analysis of impurities are backscattered electron (BSE) and cathodoluminesence (SEM-CL) imaging and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The HPQ deposits discussed include the Melkfjell quartzite, several kyanite quartzites, the Nedre Øyvollen pegmatite and the Kvalvik, Nesodden and Svanvik hydrothermal quartz veins. The discussion focuses on the content of lattice-bound trace elements and the micro-inclusion inventory because these are the major parameters which determine the quality of HPQ products. Finally, processes leading to HPQ formation are discussed.
A. Müller (&) J. E. Wanvik P. M. Ihlen Geological Survey of Norway, Sluppen 6315, 7491 Trondheim, Norway e-mail: [email protected]
J. Götze and R. Möckel (eds.), Quartz: Deposits, Mineralogy and Analytics, Springer Geology, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-22161-3_4, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
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4.1 Introduction High-purity quartz (HPQ), which is generally defined as quartz containing less than 50 lg g-1 of contaminating elements (Harben 2002; Fig. 4.1), is a valuable commodity used in a wide range of high-technology products. Demand for HPQ is increasing strongly due to the rapid development and expansion of the HPQconsuming industry. Security of supply necessitates the identification and characterization of new HPQ deposits in more countries, particularly in Europe, possibly including deposits of a different kind compared to those currently in production. Prerequisites for developing exploration tools for such deposits are the application of state-of-the-art microanalytical methods for appropriate petrological and chemical characterisation of potential deposits in order to achieve a be
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