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Composition, radioactivity, and possible applications of kaolin deposits of Sinai, Egypt

  • ArabGU2016
  • Published:
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Abstract

This work discusses the composition, radioactivity, and possible utilization of the kaolin resources in Sinai which are hosted in thick sandstone sequences belonging to the Carboniferous (Wadi Khaboba) and Early Cretaceous (Wadi Iseila and Abansakar) ages. The characterization of kaolin was done by microscopic and SEM examination, supported by XRD and ICP-MS analyses. The studied kaolin resources consist of kaolinite, as the main constituent, associated with subsidiary dickite and halloysite, and minor contribution of smectite and illite. The most dominant non-clay mineral is quartz, besides minor gypsum, dolomite, and hematite. Ferrugination dominates, in most cases, at the upper boundaries of the kaolin lenses, suggesting possible supergene activity. The high Al2O3/SiO2 ratio for the Cretaceous kaolin (0.54, in average) specifies its better grade relative to the Carboniferous kaolin (0.43, in average). The kaolin of the middle part of lens C in Wadi Iseila contains Si/Al molecular ratio of about unity, suggesting high-grade kaolin. The Carboniferous kaolin has enriched the radionuclides: U, Th, and Ra (at disequilibrium state due to leaching of eU relative to Ra) and the REE, relative to that of the Cretaceous age. The Carboniferous kaolin is characterized by a higher contribution of HREE (zircon signature), whereas LREE seems to be more influential for the Early Cretaceous kaolin (monazite signature). In spite of the very high CIA index (93 to 99), none of the analyzed kaolin deposits displays Ce abnormality. The high radioactivity of some Carboniferous kaolin can be a serious impediment for its utilization or its exportation. The kaolin of Sinai does not satisfy the international standards for paperwork industries and refractory manufacturing, but beneficiation may overcome this challenge. However, some lenses have high-grade kaolin with a low percentage of oxides of iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium and a low radioactivity, hence nominated for the local refractory industry. The high-grade kaolin of Sinai fulfills the standards required for ceramics manufacturing in the global market. Grade 3 kaolin (< 30%, Al2O3) can be used in the manufacturing of white Portland cement and red glaze manufacturing on both local and global markets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Ahmed El-Kammar & Hassan Taha Abu-Zied

  2. Nuclear Material Authority, Kattamiya, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Galal & Dina Osman

Authors
  1. Ahmed El-Kammar
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  2. Hassan Taha Abu-Zied
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  3. Mohamed Galal
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  4. Dina Osman
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Correspondence to Ahmed El-Kammar.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Current Advances in Geology of North Africa

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El-Kammar, A., Abu-Zied, H.T., Galal, M. et al. Composition, radioactivity, and possible applications of kaolin deposits of Sinai, Egypt. Arab J Geosci 10, 463 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3223-6

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