Low-Temperature Plasticity of Naturally Deformed Calcite Rocks

Optical, cathodoluminescence and transmission electron microscope (TEM)analyses were conducted on four groups of calcite fault rocks, a cataclastic limestone, cataclasticcoarse-grained marbles from two fault zones, and a fractured mylonite. These fault rocks showsimilar microstructural characteristics and give clues to similar processes of rock deformation.They are characterized by the structural contrast between macroscopic cataclastic (brittle) andmicroscopic mylonitic (ductile) microstructures. Intragranular deformation microstructures (i.e.deformation twins, kink bands and microfractures) are well preserved in the deformed grains inclasts or in primary rocks. The matrix materials are of extremely fine grains with diffusivefeatures. Dislocation microstructures for co-existing brittle deformation and crystalline plasticitywere revealed using TEM. Tangled dislocations are often preserved at the cores of highly deformedclasts, while dislocation walls form in the transitions to the fine-grained matrix materials andfree dislocations, dislocation loops and dislocation dipoles are observed both in the deformedclasts and in the fine-grained matrix materials. Dynamic recrystallization grains from subgrainrotation recrystallization and subsequent grain boundary migration constitute the major parts of thematrix materials. Statistical measurements of densities of free dislocations, grain sizes ofsubgrains and dynamically recrystallized grains suggest an unsteady state of the rock deformation.Microstructural and cathodoluminescence analyses prove that fluid activity is one of the major partsof faulting processes. Low-temperature plasticity, and thereby induced co-existence of macroscopicbrittle and microscopic ductile microstructures are attributed to hydrolytic weakening due to theinvolvement of fluid phases in deformation and subsequent variation of rock rheology. Duringhydrolytic weakening, fluid phases, e.g. water, enhance the rate of dislocation slip and climb, andincrease the rate of recovery of strain-hardened rocks, which accommodates fracturing.

Determination of F,S(total),and Cl in the Calcite Rich Limestone and Marbles by WD-XRF Spectrometry

Determining the contents of F,S(total),and Cl in the studied samples of the limestone and marbles with high calcite contents was carried out by the nondestructive method of WDXRFS(Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry).All measurements were performed in a vacuum condition using a WDXRF spectrometer S8 TIGER(Bruker AXS,Germany).The studied samples have wide ranges of F,S(total),and Cl contents,and high concentration of calcite(89.5%-99%).Main objective of this research is to develop WDXRF(WD X-ray fluorescence)technique for the determination of F,S(total),and Cl.The calculated values of the ILD(instrumental limit of the detection)were within the interval from 3 for S(total)to 37 for F mg/kg.The repeatability was found to be satisfactory with the relative standard deviations lower than 7%.

Selective separation of silica from a siliceous-calcareous phosphate rock

Selective separation of silica from a siliceous-calcareous phosphate ore that had been sieved into different size fractions is investigated by a combination of chemical analysis,zeta potential measurement and FTIR and XPS techniques.Scrubbing is a better choice than flotation for removing silica from the coarse fractions.The P_2O_5 grade of the coarse fractions is increased to about 30%by scrubbing and the product yields are higher than those obtained by flotation.The silica in the fine fraction is separated by reverse flotation.An alkyl amine salt(DAH)is an effective collector and the P_2O_5 grade of the fine fraction can be increased by 7%to beyond 30%under acidic conditions.The higher zeta potential obtained using DAH suggests that it is more strongly absorbed onto the ore particles than the other cationic collectors. FTIR and XPS results confirm physical absorption of the cationic collector onto the ore surface.They also indicate that calcite is dissolved at low pH values,which increases the Si concentration on the ore surface.