Hygrothermal Features of Laterite Dimension Stones for Sub-Saharan Residential Building Construction

The building sector is widely recognized as having a major impact on sustainable development. Both in developed and developing countries, sustainability in buildings approaches are growing. Laterite dimension stone (LDS) is a building material that was traditionally used in sub-Saharan Africa, but its technical features still need to be assessed. This article presents some results of a study focused on the characterization of LDS exploited in Burkina Faso for building purposes. The measured average thermal conductivity is 0.51  W/mK, which increases with water content and evolves with the specific gravity and with porosity. Rock mineral phases (quartz, goethite, hematite, magnetite) are cemented by kaolinite. The porosity of the material is high (30%), with macropores visible on the surface and found in the rock inner structure as well. Results from the hygrothermal monitoring of a pilot building are also presented.

Uranium distribution and radon exhalation from Brazilian dimension stones

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The late precambrian K-alkaline magmatism in the Ribeira Fold Belt: a case study of the Piracaia Pluton, State of São Paulo, SE Brazil, and its potential mineralization (Cu, Zn, Gd)

The Pluriserial Ribeira Magmatic System-590 of the Late Precambrian Ribeira Fold Belt comprises seven groups of high-K rocks of crustal or mantle origin with ages ranging between 620 and 570 Ma. One of these groups is represented by transalkaline suites akin to appinitic lamprophyres. The suites assemble one or more of following lithologies: (+/- quartz) gabbros and monzogabbros, (+/- quartz) diorites and monzodiorites, (+/- quartz) monzonites and syenites in addition to rare granites. All these rocks occur together in the Piracaia pluton, State of São Paulo. The mineralogy of the Piracaia suite comprises variable amounts of plagioclase (An 60-10), alkali-feldspars (orthoclase, microcline, albite), ortho- (Fe-hypersthene) and clinopyroxenes (augite), amphiboles (hornblende and rare late Fe-hastingsite), abundant biotite, quartz, opaques, sphene, allanite and zircon. Several magmatic pulses constructed the pluton. The Piracaia magma bulk trend evolved initially along the silica-undersaturation plane with simultaneous fractionation of accessory, mafic and felsic minerals. These are segregated in feldspar-rich cumulates. In the late stage, the evolutionary trend followed two distinct paths: one along the or-ab thermal barrier with the crystallization of syenites; the second one along the thermal valley in the or-ab-qz subsystem, producing quartz-syenites and granites. The source of the Piracaia magma was a 'vein-plus-wall-rock-system '. Together the pulses reflect increasing and decreasing participation of peridotites and mica pyroxenites, respectively, in the magmatogenic process. The magmatic pulses were stored in magma chambers, several drained by deep faults or fractures, which were successively reactivated and recharged. Each new pulse underwent mixing with earlier residual magma, followed by fractionation. During ascent through the hot and thickened post-collisional crust, the magma pulses underwent minor compositional changes by crustal contamination. The concentration of valuable elements (Cu, Zn, Gd) in the Piracaia pluton occurred during two phases of the magmatic evolution. Cu and Zn were enriched in cumulates and Gd was concentrated in residual quartz-syenitic veins. Due to their homogeneous dark colour and texture, the monzodiorites are exploited both for polished dimension stones and supports for sensitive scientific instruments. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate in Brazilian igneous rocks

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Paraná Basin: Mineral resource potentials in Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay

The Paraná Basin is a Western Gondwanan cratonic basin that is better defined as the Paraná depositional site, since it has a diverse history as a basin. Sedimentation started in the Ordovician-Silurian, followed by extensive marine Devonian deposition. A Late Paleozoic/ Triassic facies cycle wedge was clearly built during Pangean time. The Early Cretaceous was characterized by extensive basaltic lava flows immediately before the break-up of Pangea. Following these rifting and drifting processes, the basin's structural framework was totally rebuilt, generating new depositional sites in the Late Cretaceous to Tertiary. Based on more recent data, at least two different basins may be defined during the evolution of what was once considered a unique basin. Nevertheless, even if considered as a single basin, the sedimentary pile of the Paraná Basin has considerable economic potential, until now exploited only rudimentarily, except for its groundwater resources. Aggregates, limestones, clays, industrial sands, gems, dimension stones, hydrocarbons, coal, peat, and uranium are some of the potential mineral resources of this basin. Copyright © 1997 by V. H. Winston & Son, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rochas ornamentais e de revestimento do sudoeste do estado do mato grosso

Geological, petrographical, chemicals and technological studies of rocks of the southwest region of Mato Grosso State, Brazil have the purpose of qualification and application of these rocks as dimension stones. The first objective is to enlarge the offering of new esthetic varieties that show a standardization of technologic patterns, adequate characterization and classification assuring the correct specification of the rocks in relation to the use as dimension stones. Ten rock types are recognized for dimension stones, including granites, diabases, gneisses and amphibolites grouped by its colors in red, grey and black types and showing economic potential of plowing. The results obtained in the technological essays show that the rock parameters are sited inside the standard limits established by technical rules and obey satisfactorily the limit values fixed for granites in internal and external covering uses.

Investigação tecnológica de arenitos silicificados da Formação Botucatu (ne do Paraná) para uso como rocha de revestimento

For many years the silicified sandstone associated of the Botucatu Formation has been the target of interest to researchers and miners, either for understanding the genesis of silicification or for your use as dimension stone and covering on the building industry. If in the first there are several articles available in the geological literature the second there are only technical data marketing available. In the northeast portion of the Paraná State and southwest of the São Paulo State these rocks are mined and traded as covering stones. Not much is known about their intrinsic characteristics and technological properties. To improve the knowledge of the technological behavior of these materials, samples from a quarry from Ribeirao Claro region were petrographically and physically characterized according to the standards established by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards to dimension stones. Therefore, two bulk samples of silicified sandstone of the Ribeirão Claro/PR region were studied and characterized following the norms established by Brazilian Association of Technical Standards for dimension stones. The results obtained in the petrographical and technological studies are presented and indicated that, in general, the technological performance presented by sandstone studied induces limitations of use as covering materials, mainly horizontally as pavements, door stone and step ladder.

Influência das propriedades petrográficas na qualidade do polimento de rochas ornamentais

Pós-graduação em Geologia Regional - IGCE

Diagnóstico da cadeia produtiva de rochas ornamentais e de revestimento do Estado do Ceará: mineração, serrarias, marmorarias e desafios do setor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Geologia estrutural aplicada às rochas ornamentais na Pedreira Knawa, Cláudio (MG)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo do comportamento tecnológico e de alterabilidade das rochas ornamentais silicáticas verde Amazonas, preto Cajugram e bege Ipanema - (ES)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização petrográfica, físico-mecânica e de alterabilidade dos calcários ornamentais das Bacias Potiguar e do Araripe (RN/CE)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alterabilidade e caracterização tecnológica dos gnaisses enderbíticos da porção norte do estado do Ceará com aplicação no setor de rochas ornamentais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização geológica e tecnológica de unidades gnáissicas e graníticas do sudoeste de Mato Grosso para fins de exploração como rochas ornamentais e para revestimento

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)