Petrographic and mineragraphic analysis of Dumañuecos deposit of kaolinitic clays

Abstract

Kaolinitic clays have broad prospects in cement production and as a source of pozzolanic materials. The present paper focused on the petrographic and mineragraphic analysis of the Dumañuecos kaolinitic clay deposit, in the municipality of Manatí, Las Tunas province. In the petrographic and mineragraphic characterization of the rocks, polarized light and reflected light microscopy were used. Petrographic analysis revealed the presence of quartz, feldspars and tourmalines; as well as the predominance of granoblastic and cataclastic textures. It was established, through mineragraphic analysis, that the main mineralogical association is quartz + hematite + goethite + pyrite and cement and zonal textures predominate. The occurrence of feldspar spherules with a fibrous-radial internal structure and traces of feldspar phenocrysts indicate the possibility that the source rock of the reservoir is lava with a rhyolitic composition.

Keywords

• análisis petrográfico
• análisis mineragráfico
• arcillas caoliníticas
• yacimiento dumañuecos
• procesos hidrotermales.