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Mineralogical, micromorphological and geochemical evolution of the kaolin facies deposit from the Capim region (northern Brazil)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

D. J. L. Sousa
Affiliation:
DEGEO – Departamento de Geologia /EM/UFOP, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400 000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil Nancy Université LEM–Laboratoire Environnement et Minéralurgie /ENSG/INPL, F-54501 Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France
A. F. D. C. Varajão
Affiliation:
DEGEO – Departamento de Geologia /EM/UFOP, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400 000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
J. Yvon*
Affiliation:
Nancy Université LEM–Laboratoire Environnement et Minéralurgie /ENSG/INPL, F-54501 Vandœuvre lès Nancy, France
G. M. Da Costa
Affiliation:
DEQUI – Departamento de Quimica /ICEB/UFOP, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil

Abstract

The Capim Kaolin District (eastern Brazilian Amazon), is one of the largest kaolin deposits in the world; with the kaolin used mainly for paper coating. The kaolin developed at the expense of Cretaceous sandy-clayey sediments of the Ipixuna formation, through intense lateritization from the Mesozoic to Cenozoic times.

This work describes the morphological, mineralogical, crystallochemical and geochemical evolution of the Capim kaolin facies. Based on the profile analysis in the open pit fronts, it encompasses X-ray diffraction, thin-section optical analysis, EDS-assisted scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, chemical analysis, infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopies.

Six facies were defined as different stages of the supergene process. Ferruginization led to a thick duricrust on the soft kaolin, which in turn evolved from sandy-clayey sediments of the Ipixuna Formation. A subsequent deferruginization event degraded the duricrust, resulting in the flint kaolin facies.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2007

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