Technological characterization of metapyroxenite of the Córrego dos Boiadeiros Formation, Nova Lima (MG), Brazil.

Abstract

Rocks and industrial minerals are raw materials employed in the production of a wide variety of products, used by modern society. The same mineral or industrial rock can have several applications, depending on their physical, mineralogical and chemical characteristics. The present study had as its objective, the technological characterization of a metapyroxenite sample, belonging to the Córrego dos Boiadeiros body in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, MG (Brazil) in order to verify its possible industrial applications. For this research study, X-ray fluorescence chemical analyzes were performed, which determined the following oxides: 0.06% TiO2, 8.2% Fe2O3, 24.1% MgO, 2.1% Al2O3, 48.7% SiO2 and 1.8% CaO. In the mineralogical characterization by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, SEM / EDS and thermogravimetry, the following minerals were identified: antigorite, chlorite, chromite, ilmenite, magnetite, rutile, talc and tremolite. For the preliminary concentration tests, the material used (-147μm) presented 32% of the particles in the fraction -37μm with d50 in 74μm. The 3575 Gauss magnetic field and the particle size fraction -74μm generated a mass recovery of 96.4% and a whiteness of 61.9% for the non-magnetic product. Although no talc enriched products were generated by preliminary magnetic separation tests, the non-magnetic products presented specifications for the following applications: paper (wallpaper and packing), insecticide and fertilizers.