TITLE:
Major Elements Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks from Corumbataí Formation, Santa Gertrudes Ceramic Pole, São Paulo, Brazil
AUTHORS:
Maria Margarita Torres Moreno, Rogers Raphael da Rocha, Letícia Hirata Godoy
KEYWORDS:
Clay Minerals; Raw Material; Ceramic Coatings; Weathering
JOURNAL NAME:
Geomaterials,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
9,
2014
ABSTRACT: We conducted a geochemical study of the major elements of 29 clay
samples from 10 mining fronts, which are used for ceramic coatings at Santa
Gertrudes Ceramic Pole, São Paulo, Brazil. This region is considered as the
biggest ceramic pole in Latin America. The mines are located in Corumbataí
Formation (Paraná Sedimentary Basin) and are mined in bench system. The samples
were analyzed as a whole and along each profile to evaluate the variation of
the concentration of major elements and weathering effects. The results show a
differentiation into three groups: 1) carbonate clays; 2) lower portion
samples; 3) upper portion samples, and properties that allow obtaining useful
information about the use and selection of raw materials to the formulation of ceramic
masses and for quality control of raw materials in order to achieve products of
similar quality.