Effect of Soaking Time on Crystal Structure of Lithium Aluminosilicate Glass Ceramic

Formation of crystal structures in glass ceramic is influenced by the heat treatment of parent glass. Most of research often studied on the important of sintering temperature and its soaking time. In this study, the effect of soaking time (3, 4 and 5 hours) during melting process (1550 °C) on crystal structures of Lithium Aluminosilicate (LAS) glass ceramic was conducted. All samples were then sintered at 900 °C for 30 minutes. The amorphous phase was identified prior to sintering process and transformed into crystalline phase for all samples after sintering process in XRD analysis. Major crystalline phase of high quartz solid solution and β-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) were observed and higher intensity peak is found as the soaking time is longer. The microstructure of the sintered samples was observed under SEM and the particles were displayed an evidently growth of the grain as function to the soaking time. The functional groups of Si-O-Si and Si-O(Si, Al) bonding were appeared in fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis corresponding to the silicates and aluminosilicate bonding. The results achieved present 5 hours soaking time during melting process was the optimum soaking time for melting LAS glass at 1550 °C.

Challenging Issues of Silicon Manufacturing Technology in Bangladesh

The knowledge related to available high-quality sand deposits, Si manufacturing process and different challenging issues in manufacturing is essential for developing the silicon industry in Bangladesh, which is addressed in this article. For high-tech applications, the primary element silica needs to be 98% pure, at least. A case study in Bangladesh shows that Bipinganj sand, with the high quartz percentages, low moisture content, is suitable for the industrial-grade silicon production. No trace of Boron content has been found in the sand of Shameshwari river near Bipinganj locality. Some other potential sand deposits in Bangladesh which contain a high amount of silica are Balijuri of Sherpur district, Moulvibazar, Dakshin zangal of Hathhazari Upazila in Chittagong district, Chauddagram of Comilla district and Shajibazar of Habiganj district etc. Metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) is the precursor for the solar grade (SoG) and electronic-grade silicon. In photovoltaic and electronic applications, an electric arc furnace is used for the growth of MGS. Some parameters, such as furnace temperature and heat loss, need to be considered for good quality material production. MG-Si can be produced through both carbon reduction and magnesium reduction processes. Mg reduction is comparatively expensive. Silicon production from waste glasses can be a potential technology for MG-Si production in respective to Bangladesh.

The Role of Gangue Mineralogy on Flowsheet Development in Fluorite Processing

Fluorite, CaF2, is considered a strategically important mineral as it is a raw material for many strategic industries. Froth flotation is reported to be the most efficient and economically viable process for the production of an acid-grade product with a CaF2 content of at least 97%. Selective flotation of fluorite from gangue minerals, e.g., calcite and barite, is challenging because these minerals have similar physicochemical properties. This study employed batch flotation tests coupled with mineralogical analysis to design suitable customised flowsheets and efficiently optimised reagent regimes for optimum production of acid-grade fluorite concentrate from two different fluorite ores by the froth flotation process. The effect of pulp temperature on fluorite flotation was investigated in this study with the objective of lowering pulp temperatures in fluorite flotation. The results showed that an acid-grade CaF2 concentrate could be obtained from the flotation of both ores at ambient pulp temperatures. This eliminates the requirement for high-temperature pulp treatment, which would result in a significant reduction in thermal energy costs. This study showed that an understanding of gangue mineralogy is key to process optimisation for acid-grade CaF2 production. Although an acid-grade CaF2 concentrate could be produced from both ores, the flowsheets and reagent regimes were markedly different. For instance, the production of an acid-grade CaF2 product from a high quartz and calcite ore was achieved by employing a simple rougher–multiple cleaner flotation circuit using tannin and sodium silicate as calcite and quartz depressants, respectively. On the other hand, the production of an acid-grade CaF2 product from the flotation of the pyritic ore required a pre-sulphide flotation stage for upfront sulphur removal and the use of a sulphide depressant. Multiple stages of cleaning were required for improved selectivity in the flotation of both ores.

Analysis of the shear failure of surface methane capture boreholes for improving the drainage period efficiency: A lithological perspective

The shear failure of surface methane capture boreholes (SMCBs) is the main reason for the life cycle shortening of surface methane capture boreholes but lacks a comprehensive lithological analysis. To improve the surface methane capture borehole stability and drainage period efficiency, it is of great importance to investigate the influence of lithology on the shear failure of surface methane capture boreholes. The results of direct shear tests and geological investigations show that the shear displacement increases as the grain size decreases. A jump in mechanical properties occurs at the lithological boundaries and is mainly controlled by the composition of the rock specimens. The change in cohesion is the main possible reason for the step change of the shear strength. High quartz and low clay contents may effectively improve the shear strength and failure resistance of rock. Boreholes may potentially experience preferential casing failure in the section of the weaker mudstone and siltstone due to larger shear displacements and lower shear strengths of those rock types. Protective measures at these sections may improve the stability of the borehole casing. The detection results at the close of the borehole verify the prediction.

Analysis of Shear Failure of Surface Methane Capture Boreholes for Improving Efficient Drainage Period–A Lithology Perspective

The shear failure of surface methane capture borehole (SMCB) is the main cause of shortening life cycle of SMCB but lack of lithological analysis. In order to improve the stability of SMCB and improve efficient drainage period, it is of great significance to investigate the lithology performances for shear failure of SMCB. Based on the direct shear tests and geological method, the results shows that the shear displacement increases as the grain size decreases. Mechanical jump occurs at the lithological boundaries, which is mainly determined by the composition of rock specimens. The cohesion is the mainly possible reason for the step change of shear strength. Lithology with high quartz and low clay may effectively improve shear strength and failure resistance. Boreholes drilled into the weaker siltstone and mudstone sections may potentially experience preferential damage due to the larger shear displacement and shear strength. Protective measures at these sections may improve the stability of the borehole casing. The probing data where it was found that boreholes closure validated the prediction.

Rheological information determined from cleavage refraction in naturally deformed interlayered quartzites and phyllites

Cleavage refraction angles are used to estimate effective viscosity contrasts between interlayered quartzites and phyllites within the Baraboo Syncline, Wisconsin, USA. Both types of layers contain two major phases, quartz and pyrophyllite, with minor amounts of hematite. Quartz (with minor hematite) behaves as the strong phase and pyrophyllite acts as the weak phase. Cleavage refraction directly relates to mineralogy with a linear relationship between bedding/cleavage angle and strong-phase concentration. Mineralogy exerts first-order control over effective viscosity contrasts, which are generally small, in most cases <10. Effective viscosity contrasts are consistent across the fold, so are likely not to be highly strain dependent and indicate approximate linear viscous rheology. Microstructures suggest deformation was dominated by dislocation creep in layers with high quartz concentrations and diffusive mass transfer in layers with lower quartz concentrations, and that the transition of the deformation mechanism is gradual. Thus, the rheological flow laws at the small scale may not reflect the bulk flow law at the large scale over the span of the deformation. Effective viscosity contrasts allow an evaluation of samples compared to theoretical two-phase mixtures. The analysed samples most closely resemble the Reuss bound of two-phase mixtures, regardless of the mineralogy.

Provenance and diagenesis from two stratigraphic sections of the lower cretaceous Caballos formation in the upper Magdalena valley: Geological and reservoir quality implications

The Aptian-Albian Caballos Formation is a proven reservoir in the oil producing basins of the Upper Magdalena Valley and Putumayo (Colombia), characterized by wide variation in its petrophysical properties. Integrated provenance, diagenetic and basic petrophysical analyses are presented from two stratigraphic sections of the Caballos Formation in the Upper Magdalena Valley (Ocal and Cobre creeks) in order to test regional geological models, and to relate compositional and diagenetic factors with the reservoir quality.Sandstones from the Caballos Formation document a change from texturally immature- subarkoses, litharenites to quartz arenites. High quartz contents, the presence of feldspar, sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic lithic suggest mixed provenance, with a major contribution from sedimentary sources. U-Pb dating of detrital zircons reveals age populations that include contributions from Precambrian, Permian, Triassic and Jurassic rocks. These data, together with the compositional trends, suggest that source areas likely include adjacent massifs from the eastern segment of the Upper Magdalena Valley with similar compositional andtemporal characteristics (Garzón and Macarena Massifs for the southeastern Ocal Section, and the Upper Magdalena Valley massifs and the eastern flank of the Central Cordillera; Ocal Section). The changes in compositional features and detrital geochronology between the upper and lower members of both sections suggest a change in source areas, associated with the erosion and depletion of adjacent uplifts, and the increasing dominance of more distal eastern and western sources, which reflect the end of tectonic instability and the deepening of the basin.The presence of quartz, feldspar, and lithic rock fragments have a major impact on the porosity and permeability of Caballos Formation sandstones. Porosity values are lower in the lower member of the Caballos Formation where diagenesis has altered abundant feldspar and lithic rock fragments to authigenic porefilling clays. Higher porosity and permeability values found in the upper member of the Caballos correspond to a combination of higher quartz contents and the dissolution of meta-stable components during late diagenesis.

Provenance and diagenesis from two stratigraphic sections of the lower cretaceous Caballos formation in the upper Magdalena valley: Geological and reservoir quality implications

The Aptian-Albian Caballos Formation is a proven reservoir in the oil producing basins of the Upper Magdalena Valley and Putumayo (Colombia), characterized by wide variation in its petrophysical properties. Integrated provenance, diagenetic and basic petrophysical analyses are presented from two stratigraphic sections of the Caballos Formation in the Upper Magdalena Valley (Ocal and Cobre creeks) in order to test regional geological models, and to relate compositional and diagenetic factors with the reservoir quality.Sandstones from the Caballos Formation document a change from texturally immature- subarkoses, litharenites to quartz arenites. High quartz contents, the presence of feldspar, sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic lithic suggest mixed provenance, with a major contribution from sedimentary sources. U-Pb dating of detrital zircons reveals age populations that include contributions from Precambrian, Permian, Triassic and Jurassic rocks. These data, together with the compositional trends, suggest that source areas likely include adjacent massifs from the eastern segment of the Upper Magdalena Valley with similar compositional andtemporal characteristics (Garzón and Macarena Massifs for the southeastern Ocal Section, and the Upper Magdalena Valley massifs and the eastern flank of the Central Cordillera; Ocal Section). The changes in compositional features and detrital geochronology between the upper and lower members of both sections suggest a change in source areas, associated with the erosion and depletion of adjacent uplifts, and the increasing dominance of more distal eastern and western sources, which reflect the end of tectonic instability and the deepening of the basin.The presence of quartz, feldspar, and lithic rock fragments have a major impact on the porosity and permeability of Caballos Formation sandstones. Porosity values are lower in the lower member of the Caballos Formation where diagenesis has altered abundant feldspar and lithic rock fragments to authigenic porefilling clays. Higher porosity and permeability values found in the upper member of the Caballos correspond to a combination of higher quartz contents and the dissolution of meta-stable components during late diagenesis.