Mineralogical and technological properties of the zeolites from Foça (İzmir), Bigadiç (Balıkesir) and Gördes (Manisa)

Mineral Res. Exp. Bull., 139, 61-74, 2009 MINERALOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ZEOLITES FROM FOÇA (İZMİR), BİGADİÇ (BALIKESİR) AND GÖRDES (MANİSA) Günnur ULUSOY* and Mustafa ALBAYRAK** ABSTRACT.- Technological analyses of zeolites are important for their areas of use. Zeolite samples were collected from different regions (İzmir-Foça, Balıkesir-Bigadiç, Manisa-Gördes) for this study. First mineralogical and chemical analyses of the samples were conducted in the study. Later on, technological tests of the samples were made for their utilizing in ceramic industry (pre- technological), in paper industry (filling and coating) and as cat litter. Finally the results were evaluated. It was concluded that some samples can be used in baked ceramics in ceramic industry; they have high whitening properties to be used in paper industry. As for cement additives, their flexural strength is observed in a range between 0,94 - 12,85 kgf/cm2 while their compressive strength is between 2,08 - 51,20 kgf/cm2. Porosity of some samples are above 40% which means they meet the criteria to be used as soil conditioners. Key words: Zeolite, Foça, Bigadiç, Gördes INTRODUCTION Zeolites which are defined as hydrous aliminium silicates with alkaline and earth alkaline elements are among significant industrial raw materials because of their physical and chemical properties. In this study the zeolite samples collected from İzmir (Foça), Balıkesir (Bigadiç) and Manisa (Gördes) regions were investigated for their mineralogical and technological properties to define their areas of usage (Figure 1). For this reason, thin sections of the samples were prepared and their mineralogical determinations, XRD and XRF analyses were performed. By thin sections and XRD analyses types of zeolites were determined. As for the technological properties, pre-technological investigation methods, water and oil absorption capacities, cat litter test, whiteness and abrasion tests, porosity and pozzolanic tests were applied to reach to the results of the areas of usage. Experiments and tests were conducted in the laboratories of the Department of MAT of MTA. Figure 1- Location map of the (Foça,Bigadiç and Gördes) * Maden Tetkik ve Arama Genel Müdürlüğü,Maden Analizleri ve Teknolojisi Dairesi Başkanlığı,06520 Ankara **Maden Tetkik ve Arama Genel Müdürlüğü,Maden Analizleri ve Teknolojisi Dairesi Başkanlığı,06520 Ankara study area 62 Günnur ULUSOY and Mustafa ALBAYRAK Literally the word “ZEOLITE” means “boiling rock”. The name was given to the rock since it explodes and decomposes when heated. In general, the natural zeolites are used as light building rocks and light aggregates in construction industry and as additives in paper industry and as soil conditioner and additive for fertilizers in agriculture industry (Yücel, 1987). ed in the north of Gördes into the Lake Gördes which was a sedimentation basin in that period. In Gördes and the surrounding area, metamorphic rocks (gneiss, migmatite, micaschist, quartzite) of Menderes massif are located at the basement (Figure 2). Zeolite minerals include empty spaces and channels in their structures. Since they can lose the water in these empty spaces and channels without changing their structures under high temperatures, based on their loose skeletal structures, they have replaceable cations. For this reason, they are succesfully used in adsorbtion, ion Exchange and dehydration areas. Öner et al., (2000) have studied different aspects of the zeolites collected from ManisaGördes area in course of their project titled “Geological, mineralogical and chemical properties of zeolitic tuffs and their areas of usage in industry”. Albayrak et al., (2001) have used zeolite (clinoptilolite) instead of quartzite to produce gas concrete during their Project titled “Production of light building Stones from zeolites”. Kalafatoğlu et al., (2002) prepared “Bibliography of Zeolite Research” in TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center in which, researches on zeolites in Turkey based on earthsciences; researches on characterization of zeolites in Turkey; application-oriented researches on zeolites, synthetic zeolites and zeolitic borophosphates were discussed. GEOLOGY MANİSA GÖRDES REGİON The volcanosedimentary formations known as Gördes zeolites were formed by flowing and deposition of rhyolitic, rhyo - dacitic eruptions of Kobaklar Volcanism (Göktaş et al., 1996) locat- Figure 2- Geological map of Bigadiç and its surroundings and sampling locations (modified from Ercan et al., 1984). Lower Miocene Kürtköyü, Yeniköy and Çıtak formations unconformably overlie the Menderes massif. Kürtköyü formation is dominantly composed of boulderstone, coarse conglomerate, conglomerate and sandstones. It is unconformably overlain by Yeniköy formation which is comprised dominantly of conglomerate, sandstone and mudstones which includes lignite levels. There are algal limestone interbeds at the upper levels of this formation. ZEOLITES OF İZMİR-BALIKESİR - MANİSA REGION Küçükderbent formation conformably and transitively overlies the Yeniköy formation. It is dominantly comprised of clayey limestone, shale, mudstone, sandstone, tuff and less bituminous shales which reflect a lacustrine environment. This unit is unconformably overlain by Gökyar formation which is made up of rhyolitic tuffs. In Manisa-Gördes region mostly clinoptilolite minerals and less hoylandite and analcime bearing levels are observed (Vural and Albayrak, 2005). Calcalkaline volcanism comprised of lava and tuffs of dacitic, rhyodacitic composition which activated in Early Upper Miocene ends the Küçükderbent lacustrine deposition. These volcanics were defined as Karaboldere Volcanics (Ercan, 1983). All these units were unconformably overlain by Upper MiocenePliocene sedimentary sequence. BALIKESİR (BİGADİÇ) REGION The sequences cropping out in BalıkesirBigadiç region were compiled from Ercan et al., (1984a, b) (Figure 3). Figure 3- Geological columnar section of Gördes and the surrounding area (modified from Göktaş, 1966). 63 The Lower Miocene Dedetepe formation is comprised of dacite, rhyodacite, rhyolite, tuff and agglomerate. At the lower levels of the formation brown, pink, grey colored, locally altered dacite, rhyolite and agglomerates take place, on the other hand, at the upper levels tuffs are dominant. The Çandağ basalt which is located on the unit is comprised of basalt, trachy - basalt, agglomerate and tuffs, from bottom to top. The fresh surfaces of the rocks are black colored while the altered parts are red-brown. The unit is quite hard and irregular. Flow structures and hexagonal cooling (columnar jointings) structures are observed in the lavas. On these volcanic rocks unconformable lacustrine deposits known as Bigadiç formation are observed. This formation is comprised of five members. These are: Güvemçetmi Limestone Member, Akçakertil tuffite member, Yeniköy limestone member, Beğendikler tuffite member, İskele Lim (...truncated)