Electromagnetic Filtration of Primary Fe-Rich Phases from Al-Si Alloy Melt

Electromagnetic filtration of primary Fe-rich phases (complex compound of AlFeSiMn) from Al-Si alloy melt containing 1.2 wt pct Fe have been studied by theoretical analysis and on a self-designed electromagnetic filtration equipment. The principle of the electromagnetic filtration is that the EMF (electromagnetic force) scarcely acts on the primary Fe-rich phases having low electric conductivity, which are then moved in the direction opposite to that of the EMF. Experimental results show that the primary Fe-rich phases are separated from Al-Si alloy melt and are collected in the filter while the melt is in horizontal flow. The removal efficiency of the primary iron-phases (77) calculated is less as the greatest flow velocity of the melt (UM) and the height of the filter (2h) are larger, while it becomes larger as EMF, operating distance of electromagnetic force (cr) and particle size (dv) become larger. It has been confirmed that the primary iron-phases larger than 20 jim can be removed efficiently by theoretical analysis and experiments. This new technique is high efficient and available for continuously flowing melts as compared with natural settling and filtration methods, which offer a possibility for recycling high quality aluminum alloys.

Melilite-derived mineral inclusions in chromite from the Gaositai complex: Implications for an extensional tectonic setting in Early Permian at the north North China Craton

The Early Permian mafic-ultramafic concentrically zoned Gaositai intrusion at Chengde, on the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC), is a cumulative complex emplaced along a giant fracture that penetrates deeply into the continental lithosphere. Melt inclusions are present in chromite crystals from the inner dunite and chromitite zones of the Gaositai complex. The melt inclusions have experienced post-trap crystallization and resulted in multiple mineral phases, including melilite, garnet, phlogopite, magnesite and apatite, which can indicate the liquidus minerals of the primitive magma. The characteristics of the melilite+melanite+clinopyxene assemblage indicate that the primary parental magma was highly undersaturated and derived from an alkali-rich mantle source. The crystallization of phlogopite, magnesite and apatite suggests a primary magma rich in K, H_2O and CO_2. When compared with experimental data, the primary magma of the Gaositai intrusion is concordant with a kamafugite magma originating from partial melting of enriched mantle with H_2O and CO_2 at pressures greater than 2.7 GPa. This magmatic process would have been related to extensional thinning of the continental lithosphere. The Gaositai primary magmas have high Nb/La ratios, which are similar to those of ocean island basalts, but different from arc-related magmas. This suggests that the northern margin of the NCC was not an active continental margin of the Paleo-Asian Ocean subduction zone during the Early Permian: an extensional tectonic setting during the emplacement of the Gaositai intrusion is more likely.