Introduction

to
Applied Mineralogy

A short series of lectures prepared for the Third year of

Geology, Tanta University

2013- 2014
by
Hassan Z. Harraz
hharraz2006@yahoo.com
 Acknowledgments
I acknowledge gratefully the extent to which I have leant on the work contained in several good text books:

Applied Mineralogy: Applications in Industry and Environment by Mukherjee, S., 2011.

Springer, 572p.
Industrial minerals and their uses: a handbook and formulary by Ciullo , P. A.,1996. Noyes
Publications-USA
From Technology Through Machinery to Kilns for SACMI Tile by Anonymous, 1995. Vol.1 &
2, SACMI, Imola, Italy
Materials Handbook by Brady, G.S., and Clauser, H.R., 1977. 11th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New
York
Industrial Minerals and Rocks, Edited by Carr, D.D. 1994, 6th Ed., Society for Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO
Rock-Forming Minerals by Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A., Zussman, J., 1978. Vols. 1-5, Wiley, New
York
Applied Clay Mineralogy by Grim, R.E., 1962. McGraw-Hill, New York
Chemistry of Clays and Clay Minerals by Newman, A.C.D. (ed.), 1987. Wiley, New York
Applied Mineralogy and the industrial use of Minerals by Nickel, K. G. Geology Vol.III,
EOLSS.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 2
 Outline of lectures:
 Topic 1: Concepts of an applied mineralogy
 Topic 2: Reviewed the most common minerals of important industrial
applications.
 Topic 3: Mineralogical materials science; Processing and Specific Role of a
mineralogist in row materials production
 Topic 4: Ceramic processing
 Topic 5: Glass processing
 Topic 6: Cement processing
 Topic 7: Environmental behavior of raw materials and social concerns

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 3
 Keywords:

 Applied Mineralogy
 Technical Mineralogy;
 Mineral Processing;
 Materials Sciences;
 Materials Properties;
 Ceramics;
 Phase Analysis;
 Chemical Analysis

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 4
 Aims of Course:
 Applied Mineralogy course :
 Reviewed the most common minerals of important industrial
applications.
 The Industrial Use of Natural Non-Ore Minerals
 Mineralogical Materials Science and Processing
 Environmental Behavior of raw materials.

 All will help you to provide product development professionals – novice

and seasoned − with a better understanding of their mineral raw materials.

 Many important technical products of industry come from the use of

natural occurring minerals, the use of some of the most common minerals
will be reviewed .

My hope is that through this understanding they can develop their skills in
matching the most appropriate minerals to their applications while gaining an
appreciation of both the common ground and differences in approach they have
with counterparts in industries other than their own.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 5
Topic 1: Concepts of an Applied Mineralogy

A short series of lectures prepared for the

Third year of Geology, Tanta University

2013- 2014
by
Hassan Z. Harraz
hharraz2006@yahoo.com

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 6
Outline of Topic 1:

 How much metal is available?

 What is a mineral?
 What is Applied Mineralogy?
 What Applied Mineralogy is not…
 History
 Review of some mineralogical Concepts

We will explore all of the above in Topic 1.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 7
Minerals

 Natural
 Solid
 Inorganic
 Definite chemical
composition
 Crystal structure due to
internal arrangement of
atoms
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/index.htm

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 8
 http://www.mii.org/www.mii.org

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 9
Common uses include:

 Aluminum → packaging, transport, building

 Beryllium → gemstones, fluorescent lights
 Copper → electric cables, wires, switches
 Feldspar→ glass and ceramics
 Iron → buildings, automobiles, magnets
 Calcite → toothpaste, construction
http://www.mii.org/commonminerals.php

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 10
What is Applied Mineralogy?
Applied Mineralogy is the science aiming:
i) to study problems related to the use of mineral resources at the
service of mankind and
ii) to study the impact of human activities on the mineral world.
Of particular interest are
those problems related to the exploration, exploitation and processing of mineral
resources on one hand and
the problems related to health, mineral waste disposal and geomaterials alteration on
the other hand.
In all these problems, applied mineralogy is characterized by a mineral-based approach.

 By mineralogical approach, we mean a description of any material in terms of mineral phases.

This deals with the identification of :
 the nature of mineral phases,
 the determination of their grain size, shape and structural arrangement
(texture analysis).
As a corollary, applied mineralogy is also concerned with the development
of instruments and sensing technologies that allow to quantify such properties at lab
or process level.
Because applied mineralogy mostly relates to a microscopical analysis of large-scale problems it is
essential that representatively issues be discussed. Sampling theory, statistical process control and
upscaling of physical properties are of major interest to this research field.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 11
Definition:
 Applied mineralogy is mineralogical materials science…………
 It concentrates on anorganic non-metal materials and comprises all
aspects of their analysis, sampling, preparation, synthesis, property
determination and evaluation.
 Applied mineralogy overlaps with the appropriate sections of other
physic-chemical, technical and life sciences.

Identification of mineral resources

Processing of mineral resources
Properties of use of mineral materials
Development of instrumentation
Environmental incidence of mineral materials
Cultural heritage

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 12
 Applied mineralogy and Applied mineralogy and
identification of mineral resources processing of mineral resources
 Mineralogy takes its  An important topic in applied
mineralogy is the follow up of
roots from the minerals in industrial processes.
description of naturally  This includes the use of
mineralogical / petrographical tools
occurring phases. in analyzing :
 In that sense, applied  Sub-products from mineral
processing circuits.
mineralogy is  Products and wastes/slags
particularly concerned from hydro- or pyro-
metallurgical processes.
with those minerals  Fired mineral materials :
occurring in nature and glass, ceramics, refractories,
having an impact on clinker, bricks, …
 Hydrated mineral materials :
human activities cement, plaster, …
(economic mineralogy,  Cut and polished minerals :
environmental gems, ornamental stone ,…
mineralogy,…).
13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 13
 Applied mineralogy and properties of
use of mineral materials
 Both natural and synthetic minerals
are used in many products as fillers,
extenders, hydraulic bonding agents,
etc.
 Applied mineralogy is concerned with
the study of relationships between
the mineral/microscopical properties
and the physical properties of such
materials :
 Optical properties
 Abrasive properties
 Mechanical (compression,
tension,…) properties of building
materials
 Mechanical (compression,
tension,…) properties of
composite materials
 Alteration of building materials
(ornamental stones, concrete,..)
13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation
Applied mineralogy and environmental
incidence of mineral materials
At each step of the industrial cycle (extraction,
production, use and destruction of mineral
materials) wastes are produced. These wastes
enter the environment and interact with the
biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere
and impact on earth sustainability.
Applied mineralogy is concerned with studies of
:
 Minerals synthetized within or entering the
human body.
 Studies of emission dust and nanoparticles
emitted into the atmosphere (natural and
synthetic) and their impact on climate or
health.
 Studies of acid mine drainage mineralogy
and its impact on heavy metal drainage or
immobilization
 Geomaterials produced to fix radioactive or
toxic elements and their durability.
 Mineral barriers used to contain radioactive
or toxic elements and their durability.
 Mineral waste materials and their
diagenesis.
Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 14
Note

• Compounding raw materials can be toxic, and

therefore due caution should always be exercised
in the use of these hazardous materials.
• Final determination of the suitability of any
information or product for use contemplated by
any user, and the manner of that use is the sole
responsibility of the user.
• We strongly recommend that users seek and
adhere to a manufacturer’s or supplier’s current
instructions for handling each material they use.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 15
 Applied mineralogy Applied mineralogy and the
and cultural heritage development of instrumentation
 A mineralogical approach to material analysis will only attract
 Archaeometry, attention if corresponding equipments for mineral quantification /
 Ornamental stone identification are made available. Because of its applied nature,
applied mineralogy is particularly concerned by the development
of quantitative instruments and instruments that can be put on-
line or automated (at least in the long term). Instruments
requiring large scale facilities (synchrotron radiation, etc…) are
less concerned.
 Quantitative instrumentation cannot be recognized in the
industrial world if it does not evolve towards recommendations
about standards, norms,.. and if it does not state the accuracy of
the method. The community of applied mineralogists should
therefore promote round robin tests among its members.
 Essential techniques used in applied mineralogy include :
 Optical Microscopy
 Electron Microscopy
 Micro-analysis techniques in SEM or TEM conditions (EDX,
WDX, EBSP, CL,…)
 X-Ray Diffraction
 Size distribution analysis techniques
 Porosity and pore size distribution analysis techniques
 Signal and image analysis techniques (Rietveld refinement,
Liberation analysis, etc.)

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 16
What Applied Mineralogy is not…
 Applied Mineralogy is not concerned with:
 Systematic classification of minerals,
 Inventary of mineral species,
 Synthetization of new mineral compounds,
 Crystallographical computations and simulations,
………. etc.

 In a more general sense, applied mineralogy is not

concerned with mineralogical investigations of natural
(geological) processes without any reference to the
potential use or potential environmental impact of such
mineral materials.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 17
History
 Applied mineralogy is as ancient as humankind if we consider that the
proper choice of a material for making a tool implied already some
kind of "applied mineralogy" knowledge.
 But, of course, considering that Applied Mineralogy can only result
from a proper understanding of our mineralogical environment we
cannot refer to the field before the XVIIth century.
 Padre Alonso Barba's "El arte de los metales" or Henkel's
"Pyrotologia" textbooks are some important landmarks in the
understanding of minerals and their link with mineral processing or
metallurgy.
 But the first book that explicitly refers to the expression of Applied
Mineralogy is probably the one of C.P. Brard written in 1821 and
entitled:
"Minéralogie Appliquée aux Arts"
ou Histoire des minéraux qui sont employés dans l'agriculture, l'économie
domestique, la médecine; la fabrication des sels, des combustibles et des
métaux; l'architecture et la décoration; la peinture et le dessin; les arts
mécaniques; la bijouterie et la joaillerie.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 18
Review of Concepts:
1. Minerals can be identified by
examining….. Physical Properties, including….
Luster, Hardness, Cleavage, Color,
Streak, Density….
2. Minerals are classified according to
their….. Chemical Composition, including groups
like…. Native Elements, Sulfides, Oxides,
and the all important SILICATES

3. The “Basic Building Block” of

the Silicate Minerals is…..

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 19
Mineral Groups
 Rock-forming minerals
 ~30 common minerals make up most rocks in Earth’s crust
 Composed mainly of the 8 elements that make up over 98% of the crust
 Silicates (most abundant)
 Non-silicates (~8% of Earth’s crust):
 Native elements (monoelemental composition--lack of anion; single elements;
e.g., Au)
 Oxides ( main anion is O2-)
 Hydroxides ( main anion complex is OH-)
 Carbonates ( main anion is the oxyacid anion, (CO3)2-)
 Halides (main anion is Cl-, F-, Br- or I-)
 Sulfates (SO4)2-
 Sulfides, sulfarsenides, arsenides, sulfosalts ( main anion is S2- or As3-)
 Borates ( the oxyacid anion, BxOy-z)
 Nitrates ( the oxyacid anion, NO3-1)
 Phosphates ( oxyacid anion, PO4-3)
 Tungstates ( the oxyacid anion, WO4-2)
 Silicates ( the oxyacid anion, SixOy-z)

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 20
 Non-ferromagnesian
Silicates (K, Na, Ca, Al)

Ferromagnesian
Silicates (Fe, Mg)

Oxides
Carbonates
Sulfides/sulfates
Native elements

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 21
Silica Structure

• 4 oxygen atoms for every 1

silicon atom
• The basic building block of the
silicates is the silica tetrahedron.
• Each silicon atom is attached to
four oxygen atoms by tetahedral
bonds. This results in a 4- charge
on the SiO4 group.

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 22
 Can you find the “silica” ?

Quartz
SiO2 Mica

KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F,Cl)2

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 23
 Olivine Complexity Temp.

Pyroxenes
(Augite)

Amphibole
(Hornblende)

Micas

Feldspar,
Quartz

13 March 2014 Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation Applied Mineralogy, Introduction 24