Technologic Tests of Turkey-Gordes Zeolite Minerals

Abstract

Natural zeolites are found at many points of the world in the form of minerals. As for Turkey, quite large volumes of zeolites reserves are available in the following regions: Ankara (Nallihan, Beypazari, Polatli etc.), Kütahya-Sa- phane, Manisa-Gordes, Manisa-Demirci, Izmir-Urla, Balikesir-Bigadiç and Cappadocia. By means of the works carried out only at the field in Balikesir- Bigadiç region, one of the detected reserves in Turkey, it was understood that an easily workable potential around 500 million ton is available. According to the very limited observations made until today, it is stated that the total reserve in our country may be around 500 billion ton. In these regions, the types of clinoptilolite, hoylandit, chabazite, analcime and erionite from the zeolite minerals exist. Zeolites are widely used in many sectors such as energy, environment, construction, detergent, chemistry, medicine, mining, agriculture and livestock. Zeolites also provide great benefits when they are used especially in agriculture and livestock for the purpose of preventing environmental pollution threatening human being. In this study, zeolite sample taken from Manisa-Gördes region was used. Following the processes of crushing and sieving, zeolite sample was subjected to chemical analyses according to their grain thickness, microscopic examination, the analyses of XRD and Technological Tests (ceramic pre-technological reviews, value of oil absorption, whiteness measurements, examination of the zeolite sample as cat litter, determination of bleaching capability, porosity values) and their ore characteristics were determined. After the analyses, ferrous oxide, biotite, quartz, muscovite, feldspar, chlorite, non-zeolite silicates and metamorphic rock fragments have been found. This zeolite mineral with high mineral purity has been suggested to clear off all impurities via ore preparation and enrichment methods.