Los Yacimientos Ecuatoguineanos de Arenas Silíceas. Caracterización y Establecimiento de sus Posibles Usos.

Dentro de la amplia diversidad de rocas y minerales industriales que yacen en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial se encuentran los yacimientos e indicios de arenas silíceas de Bioko Norte. Las escasas crónicas mencionan actividades de explotación esporádica y temporera en tres pequeñas cortas, actualmente paralizadas, que se ubican en la aldea de El Cacahual, aproximadamente al suroeste de la ciudad de Malabo, destinadas a la fabricación de morteros para pequeñas construcciones locales. Sin embargo, no se registran estudios sobre la composición y la calidad tecnológica de estos materiales. Los recientes trabajos de investigación llevados a cabo por investigadores de la Escuela de Minas de Madrid y la Universidad de Moa (Cuba), con la colaboración de profesores de la Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, y cuyos resultados se ofrecen en estas líneas, incluyeron campaña de muestreo, caracterización y aplicaciones de estos materiales. Las primeras conclusiones establecen que en la composición sustancial de estos yacimientos aparece el cuarzo como principal fase mineral, acompañado por feldespato, caolinita, mica moscovita e illita (DRX). El estudio morfológico de las muestras por medio de la microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB) permitió describir granos con dimensiones muy cercanas y con formas angulosas, subangulosas y ocasionalmente subredondeadas, que indican un transporte escaso o casi nulo; esta evidencia infiere la naturaleza residual de estos yacimientos, formados a partir de la alteración y posterior redeposición eluvial de un supuesto protolito de composición granitoide. Por otra parte, la presencia de fases representadas por dolomita y hematita podrían ser el testimonio de la acción de procesos hidrotermales que afectaron a estas formaciones. Otras tareas que complementaron esta investigación, como el estudio granulométrico, contenido en materia orgánica y ensayos de resistencias mecánicas, que fueron realizadas por el Laboratorio Oficial para Ensayos de Materiales de Construcción (LOEMCO), corroboran la calidad tecnológica de estas arenas.

Estudio De Las Propiedades Puzolánicas De Las Rocas Volcánicas Del Monte Basilé, República De Guinea Ecuatorial, Y Sus Aplicaciones Como Puzolanas Para La Sustitución Del Cemento En Las Mezclas De Morteros.

Las rocas efusivas formadas por la actividad volcánica del volcán Basilé constituyen la principal fuente de áridos naturales de la Isla de Bioko, en Guinea Ecuatorial. El auge alcanzado por la construcción en la ciudad de Malabo, Malabo II y Malabo III, son un testimonio concluyente del volumen de áridos empleado para erigir los nuevos polígonos, urbanizaciones, infraestructura portuaria, carreteras, presas, alcantarillados y paseos marítimos. Gran parte de los materiales de construcción, fundamentalmente el cemento, procede de las importaciones, mientras que las rocas y minerales industriales autóctonos se conocen poco, opacados por el papel hegemónico del petróleo y el gas natural. El desconocimiento casi absoluto de las propiedades químicas, petrográficas y mecánicas de estas rocas, y la existencia de un sistema normativo pobre, ha provocado su uso indiscriminado y una controvertida calidad en la elaboración de los productos finales. Asimismo, la falta de experiencia en ingeniería y geotecnia para el desarrollo de minas y canteras, y la intermitencia de una ley de minas poco consolidada, ha favorecido la germinación indiscriminada de un gran número de excavaciones, propensas a continuos derrumbes y a la producción de impactos medioambientales irreversibles. La presente contribución científica se ha marcado como objetivo mostrar los resultados obtenidos del análisis y caracterización de estas formaciones volcánicas, así como su posible aprovechamiento industrial mediante el aporte de datos sobre sus propiedades puzolánicas e idoneidad en la elaboración de morteros. Los datos indican que estas rocas eruptivas, fundamentalmente escorias y flujos de lavas de composición basáltica, son capaces de sustituir al cemento pórtland normal hasta en un 25%, favoreciendo el incremento de las resistencias mecánicas normales con valores que sobrepasan los 37 Mpa a 28 días. El análisis de las muestras mediante el método de la puzolanicidad a 7 días dejó establecido el carácter puzolánico de estas rocas, que fue corroborado por la interpretación de citados ensayos mecánicos. El estudio de la composición química detectó contenidos en SiO2 (44,40%), Al2O3 (15,58%), CaO (9,32%), MgO (4,25%) y Fe2O3 (13,63%), y cantidades despreciables de azufre, sulfatos y materia orgánica. Los análisis de difracción de rayos x revelaron la presencia mayoritaria de una fase compuesta por feldespato, y una fase subordinada constituida por cuarzo, hematita y dolomita. El estudio mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido permitió comprobar la ausencia casi total de las especies vítreas. Los resultados que se presentan en este trabajo, podrían devenir en información útil para el posible emplazamiento de una fábrica de cemento puzolánico en la Isla de Bioko; la actual fábrica Abayak, única en Guinea Ecuatorial, y que se encuentra situada en la parte continental del país, no aporta suficiente producción para las demandas cada vez mayores de la construcción.

Petrologia dos mármores de Caçapava do Sul, RS

A região de Caçapava do Sul, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, compreende, principalmente, a quadrícula de mesmo nome e abrange cerca de 11.000 Km². A referida região é caracterizada pela ocorrência de um batólito granítico (Granito Caçapava) com afloramento de 25 x 10 Km, orientado no sentido N-S, e sobre o qual assenta-se a cidade supracitada. O Granito Caçapava é circundado por um cinturão de metamorfitos pertencentes à Formação Vacacaí, Grupo Porongos (Pré-Cambriano Superior) (RIBEIRO et alii, 1966). Dentre os metamorfitos situa-se um corpo de rochas carbonatadas de aspecto lenticular, com contatos nítidos, interprenetrado po apófises graníticas e com afloramento de aproximadamente 17 Km². Foram estudadas amostras deste corpo de rochas por meio de microscopia, microssonda eletrônica, difratometria e espectometria de raios X e análise química por via úmida, com o objetivo de identificar e caracterizar os minerais carbonáticos e silicáticos. Por meio de técnicas de coloração, foi possível a distinção de dolomita (Do), calcita (Cc) e calcita ferrífera (Ccf). As análises modal e química indicaram predominância de carbonatos sobre silicatos, estando estes últimos relacionados mais às bandas da rocha. Os minerais silicáticos detectados foram: talco, tremolita, diopsídio, forsterita, clorita e flogopita. Em menores quantidades aparecem titanita, apatita e quartzo, sendo comum, também, a serpentina oriunda de alteração da forsterita. Lançados em mapa, os minerais índices mostraram a existência de um zoneamento metamórfico com rochas pertencentes à Fácies Piroxênio Hornfels, próximo ao contato, e de rochas da Fácies Albita-Epídoto Hornfels, em porções mais distantes, evidenciando assim, metamorfismo térmico. Com base em diagramas T-\'X GRAUS\'C \'O IND.2\' para o sistema CaO-MgO-Si \'O IND.2\'-\'CO IND.2\'-\'H IND. 2\'O, foi analisado o metamorfismo destas rochas e estimadas as temperaturas máximas da ordem de \'560 GRAUS\'C, compatíveis com as temperaturas magmáticas do Granito Caçapava. A conclusão final advinda com os estudos ora realizados, sobre essas rochas carbonáticas, aponta no sentido de se tratarem de MÁRMORES DOLOMÍTICOS IMPUROS DE CONTATO, gerados durante o Ciclo Brasiliano (680 a 500 m.a.).

Pirometamorfismo em calcários da formação Jandaíra, bacia potiguar, nordeste do Brasil

The present study aims the characterization of thermally affected carbonate rocks from Jandaíra Formation in contact with Paleogene and Neogene basic intrusions in the region of the Pedro Avelino and Jandaíra municipalities (RN), northeastern Brazil. For this study, field, petrographic, x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and whole rock litogeochemistry data of carbonates were undertaken. The thermally unaffected limestones are classified like wackstones, grainstones and packstones. They may constitute carbonates grains of benthic foraminifera, echinoderm spines, ostracods, algae, corals, bivalves, gastropods, peloids and intraclasts. The porosities are classified like vug, intraparticle, interparticle, intercrystal and moldic types. The major minerals are calcite, ankerite and dolomite; the detrital are montmorillonite, pyrite, limonite, quartz and microcline. The thermally affected limestones are very coarse to very fine-grained and light to dark gray color. The fossiliferous components totally disappear, and the porosity tends to disappear. With the data obtained, it can be inferred that the carbonate protoliths would be calciferous to dolomitic limestones, both with small amount of clay minerals. Crystalline carbonates from dolomitic protolith have rhombohedral calcite and iron oxides / hydroxides, making the rocks much darker. The carbonates from calciferous protolith have a wide variation of grain size according to the recrystallization degree, increasing toward contact with the basic bodies. In this group, it was identified the minerals lizardite and spinel in weakly to moderately affected samples, and spinel and spurrite in strongly affected rocks, as well as calcite, that occur everywhere. The geological context (shallow level diabase intrusions), the crystallization of the pyrometamorphic minerals spurrite and olivine, and comparison with diagrams from the literature allow estimating temperatures and pressures around 1050-1200 °C and 0.5-1.0 kbar, respectively, for PTOTAL=PCO2. The post-intrusion cooling would have afforded the releasing of metasomatic / hydrothermal fluids, allowing the opening of the metamorphic system, with possible contribution of chemical elements from host units (sandstones, shales) and from basic intrusions. This would induce hydration of previous phases, allowing the formation of serpentine, chlorite and brucite. The results discussed here reveal the strong influence of the heat from basic intrusions within the sedimentary pile. Whereas in the offshore portion of the basin occur sills with up to 1000 m thickness, the understanding of pyrometamorphism might be useful for understanding and measuring the thermally affected rocks.

Pirometamorfismo em calcários da formação Jandaíra, bacia potiguar, nordeste do Brasil

The present study aims the characterization of thermally affected carbonate rocks from Jandaíra Formation in contact with Paleogene and Neogene basic intrusions in the region of the Pedro Avelino and Jandaíra municipalities (RN), northeastern Brazil. For this study, field, petrographic, x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and whole rock litogeochemistry data of carbonates were undertaken. The thermally unaffected limestones are classified like wackstones, grainstones and packstones. They may constitute carbonates grains of benthic foraminifera, echinoderm spines, ostracods, algae, corals, bivalves, gastropods, peloids and intraclasts. The porosities are classified like vug, intraparticle, interparticle, intercrystal and moldic types. The major minerals are calcite, ankerite and dolomite; the detrital are montmorillonite, pyrite, limonite, quartz and microcline. The thermally affected limestones are very coarse to very fine-grained and light to dark gray color. The fossiliferous components totally disappear, and the porosity tends to disappear. With the data obtained, it can be inferred that the carbonate protoliths would be calciferous to dolomitic limestones, both with small amount of clay minerals. Crystalline carbonates from dolomitic protolith have rhombohedral calcite and iron oxides / hydroxides, making the rocks much darker. The carbonates from calciferous protolith have a wide variation of grain size according to the recrystallization degree, increasing toward contact with the basic bodies. In this group, it was identified the minerals lizardite and spinel in weakly to moderately affected samples, and spinel and spurrite in strongly affected rocks, as well as calcite, that occur everywhere. The geological context (shallow level diabase intrusions), the crystallization of the pyrometamorphic minerals spurrite and olivine, and comparison with diagrams from the literature allow estimating temperatures and pressures around 1050-1200 °C and 0.5-1.0 kbar, respectively, for PTOTAL=PCO2. The post-intrusion cooling would have afforded the releasing of metasomatic / hydrothermal fluids, allowing the opening of the metamorphic system, with possible contribution of chemical elements from host units (sandstones, shales) and from basic intrusions. This would induce hydration of previous phases, allowing the formation of serpentine, chlorite and brucite. The results discussed here reveal the strong influence of the heat from basic intrusions within the sedimentary pile. Whereas in the offshore portion of the basin occur sills with up to 1000 m thickness, the understanding of pyrometamorphism might be useful for understanding and measuring the thermally affected rocks.

Upper-Pleistocene terrace deposits in Mediterranean climate: geomorphological and source-rock control on mineral and geochemical signatures (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)

Mineral and chemical composition of alluvial Upper-Pleistocene deposits from the Alto Guadalquivir Basin (SE Spain) were studied as a tool to identify sedimentary and geomorphological processes controlling its formation. Sediments located upstream, in the north-eastern sector of the basin, are rich in dolomite, illite, MgO and KB2BO. Downstream, sediments at the sequence base are enriched in calcite, smectite and CaO, whereas the upper sediments have similar features to those from upstream. Elevated rare-earth elements (REE) values can be related to low carbonate content in the sediments and the increase of silicate material produced and concentrated during soil formation processes in the neighbouring source areas. Two mineralogical and geochemical signatures related to different sediment source areas were identified. Basal levels were deposited during a predominantly erosive initial stage, and are mainly composed of calcite and smectite materials enriched in REE coming from Neogene marls and limestones. Then the deposition of the upper levels of the alluvial sequences, made of dolomite and illitic materials depleted in REE coming from the surrounding Sierra de Cazorla area took place during a less erosive later stage of the fluvial system. Such modification was responsible of the change in the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the alluvial sediments.

Efeito da adição de carbonatos em formulação de massa para revestimento cerâmico utilizando matérias-primas do Piauí

Piauí state is a major producer of traditional red ceramic burning as bricks, tiles and ceramic tiles, with its main production center located in the city of Teresina. The state has large reserves of raw materials that can be used in the ceramic coating as clays, quartz, talc and carbonates. However, in the preparation of ceramic bodies using only a mixture of clays with different characteristics. The study aims to evaluate the effect of adding two types of carbonates in the ceramic semiporous mass coating produced in Piauí and then to verify the potential use of these carbonates as supplementary raw material product manufactured or the feasibility of obtaining a ceramic plate that meets the specifications for the porous coating. For this, were characterized the ceramic Piauí coating mass, a calcitic carbonate and a dolomitic, were made in the levels of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32%. The masses were formed by pressing and burneds in two environments: a laboratory furnace (1080°C, 1120°C, 1140°C, and 1160°C) and an industrial furnace (1140°C). Then, following tests of linear shrinkage water absorption, apparent porosity, bulk density and flexural strength. Furthermore, the fired specimens were tested for their macrostructure and microstructure. The results showed the possibility of using the carbonate in ceramic mass flooring produced in Piauí, as added in small proportions improved dimensional stability and increased mechanical strength of ceramics pieces. It also proved itself possible to produce porous coating when added in higher levels

O efeito do tratamento da atapulgita no desenvolvimento de compósito com o polietileno reciclado

The study aimed at the treatment of attapulgite for the development and characterization of composite recycled low density polyethylene - PEBD_rec embedded with natural attapulgite - ATP_NAT, sifted - ATP_PN and attapulgite treated with sulfuric acid - ATP_TR in different compositions (1, 3 and 5%) and compared with the PEBD_rec. The atapulgitas, natural, screened and treated, were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and determining the area specific surface (BET). The composites were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Xray diffraction (XRD), torque rheometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and traction. The composite PEBD_rec / ATP (natural, sieved and treated) were produced by mixing in the molten state in a single screw extruder matrix wire with subsequent reprocessing matrix tape. It was found that the screening of attapulgite not reduce the quantity of quartz and the acid treatment completely extracted dolomite aggregate impurities of the channels attapulgite, and increase their surface area. The addition of attapulgite in PEBD_rec acts as a catalyst, reducing the thermal stability of the polymer. The increased concentration of attapulgite, increases resistance and reduces the elongation at break and modulus of elasticity of the composite PEBD_rec / attapulgite

Evolução diagenética e caracterização dos reservatórios da seção devoniana na Bacia do Rio do Peixe-Nordeste do Brasil

The Rio do Peixe Basin represents a main basin of northeastern Brazil and pioneering work positioned the rocks of this basin in the Early Cretaceous. However, a recent study, based on integrated pollen analysis from three wells, found an unprecedented siliciclastic sedimentary section, in the region, of early Devonian age. Therefore, the present study aims a detailed petrographic and petrological analysis of this devonian section, in the Rio do Peixe Basin and proposes a diagenetic evolution, to understand the characteristics of the porous system, identify the main reservoir petrofacies with the main factors impacting on the quality of these rocks as reservoirs and a quick study on the provenance of this section. The petrographic study was based on samples obtained from subsurface and surface. The diagenetic evolution of petrofacies and its identification were based only on subsurface samples and the study of provenance was based on surface samples. The thin sections were prepared from sandstones, pelites and sandstones intercalated with pelites. The original detrital composition for this section is arcosean and the main diagenetic processes that affected these rocks occur in various depths and different conditions, which resulted in extensive diagenetic variety. The following processes were identified: early fracture and healing of grains; albitization of K-feldspar and plagioclase; siderite; precipitation of silica and feldspar; mechanical infiltration of clay and its transformation to illite/esmectite and illite; autigenesis of analcime; dissolution; autigenesis of chlorite; dolomite/ferrous dolomite/anquerite; apatite; calcite; pyrite; titanium minerals and iron oxide-hidroxide. The occurrence of a recently discovered volcanism, in the Rio do Peixe Basin, may have influenced the diagenetic evolution of this section. Three diagenetic stages affected the Devonian section: eo, meso and telodiagenesis. This section is compositionally quite feldspathic, indicating provenance from continental blocks, between transitional continental and uplift of the basement. From this study, we observed a wide heterogeneity in the role of the studied sandstones as reservoirs. Seven petrofacies were identified, taking into account the main diagenetic constituent responsible for the reduction of porosity. It is possible that the loss of original porosity was influenced by intense diagenesis in these rocks, where the main constituent for the loss of porosity are clays minerals, oxides and carbonate cement (calcite and dolomite)