Economic Importance of Clay and Aluminium Sulphate Occurences in West-Southwest of Konya, Turkey

Authors: Muazzez ÇELİK, Abidin TEMEL, Hükmü ORHAN, Cemal TUNOĞLU

Abstract: Kaolin and bentonit deposits, zeolites and aluminium-sulphate group minerals were found within the Upper Miocene-Pliocene andesitic-dacitic volcanics and lacustrine sediments in the area bordered by the cities Konya, Beyşehir, Seydişehir and Akviran. Kaolin, zeolite and Al-sulphate-group minerals had resulted from the insitu hydrolysis and hydrothermal alteration of volcanics. Lacustrine sediments and bentonitic clay are generally interbeddedCalcerous sedimets were deposited during low volcanic input and bentonites were formed by the hydrolysis of volcanics during high volcanic input. The kaolins are mostly kaolinite but in some places consist of halloysite polymrophs. The chemical composition of the kaolinite and halloysite almost ideal. The kaolins have a yellowish-white color when baked and can be utilised as refractory raw material. The smectite, which is a common bentonite mineral, is a low-Fe-bearing Ca-montmorillonite. The bentonite may be used in cement production, foundries and the drilling industry. Alunite and minamite are the most common Al-sulphate group minerals. These minerals can be utilised to obtain Al and can be used in the production of white cement. However, their high sulphate content reduces their economic importance. Zeolite does not occur in economic quantities.

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