Argilas da região de Boa Vista - Roraima: mineralogia, geoquímica e aplicação tecnológica

Abstract

The present dissertation reports the scientific studies on clays from the surroundings of Boa Vista, capital of Roraima State. The clay minerals found at Fazenda Santa Cecília are kaolinite, illite and swelling without identify which are associated to quartz, chlorite, goethite, muscovite, rutile, tourmaline, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, monazite, calcite, plagioclase and fragments of ferruginous crust, granite, metachert, wacke, quartzite and carbonatic rock. Clay dominates over silt and sand. SiO2 and Al2O3 are the main oxides, followed by Fe2O3, K2O, TiO2 and MgO. Boron, Pb and As stand out followed by Ba, V, Y, Cr and Zn. Pollens ascending the deposits characterise two wet seasons intercalated by a drier season and ending with a dry/wet subactual climate. The 14C indicates that the onset of the clay deposits occurred 5.880 ± 70 years B.P. The clay minerals found at Fazenda Brasilândia are kaolinite, illite and swelling without identify associated to quartz, chlorite, goethite, apatite, muscovite, rutile, sericite, zircon, carbonate, ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, plagioclase in addition to fragments of quartzite and ferruginous crust occurring in association. Sand dominates over clay and silt. SiO2 and Al2O3 predominate, followed by Fe2O3, TiO2 and K2O. Boron stands out, followed by V, Ba and Cr. Kaolinite and illite are the clay minerals found in the Boa Vista Formation, which are associated with quartz, apatite, muscovite, rutile, tourmaline, sericite, ilmenite, magnetite, zircon and fragments of metachert and ferruginous crust. Sand dominates over clay and silt. SiO2 and Al2O3 predominating, followed by Fe2O3, TiO2, K2O and Na2O, CaO and MgO are below the detection threshold. Boron stands out followed by V and Cr. Montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite are the clay minerals found on the sediments derived from the Apoteri Volcanic Complex with calcite, labradorite, chalcedony, quartz, rutile, ilmenite, magnetite and fragments of ferruginous crust occurring in association. Sand predominates over clay and silt, being that SiO2 and Al2O3 are dominant, followed by Fe2O3, CaO, MnO, MgO, TiO2, Na2O, K2O and Ba, Co and B stand out followed by V, Cr, Cu, Sr, Ni, Zn, Y and Sc. Kaolinite is the sole clay mineral present in the Quitauaú river alluvium, and is associated with quartz, apatite, muscovite, ilmenite, zircon and ferruginous crust fragments. Clay is dominant over silt and sand. SiO2 and Al2O3 predominate over Fe2O3, TiO2, K2O, as well as B, Pb and As stand out followed by V, Zn, Cr and Y. Kaolinites on the studied region are badly crystallized and the oxi-hydroxide iron spots on the clays point out the activity of a new weathering cycle in the region. Technological tests certify the applicability of clays from Santa Cecília, Brasilândia and Quitauaú river alluvium just for making by the industry of red ceramics.