Brines and Chemicals ©2009 Dr. B. C. Paul Acknowledgement is given to Industrial Minerals SME, Nevada-outback- gems.com, mindat.org, minerals information institute,

Boron Minerals Come from old evaporite deposits Used as a flux in metals and ceramics Important in making fiberglass insulation Used in Boro-Silicate Glass and in enamals In Soaps and Detergents

Boron Processing Most Boron mined by open pit Ore is crushed and then dissolved –Crystalized under a vaccuum and dried –Resulting Anyhydrous borax is then used for boric acid Some minerals can be used directly in boric acid production Others can be used directly in making fiberglass

Borax Na 2 [B 4 O 7 ] · 10H 2 O S.G Hardness 2 - 2½ Color Colorless, grey, white, yellowish, seldom bluish or greenish; colorless in transmitted light. Fluorescence – not fluorescent Boron 11.3% B 2 O %

Colemenite Ca 2 B 6 O 11 ·5(H 2 O) S.G Hardness 4.5 Color Colorless, Gray, Gray white, Yellowish white, White. Fluorescence Not Fluorescent Boron 15.78% B 2 O %

Tincalconite Na 6 [B 4 O 5 (OH) 4 ] 3 ·8(H 2 O) S.G Hardness 2 Color White Fluorescence – not fluorescent Boron 15.16% B 2 O %

Kernite Na 2 B 4 O 6 (OH) 2 ·3(H 2 O) S.G , Average = 1.91 Hardness Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence – None Boron 14.9% B 2 O %

Ulexite NaCaB 5 O 6 (OH) 6 ·5(H 2 O) S.G , Average = 1.95 Hardness 2.5 Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence None Boron 13.34% B 2 O %

Chlorine Made by electrolysis of dissolved salt Chlorine needed in many petroleum based plastics and synthetics –Example Polyvinalchloride (PVC) Needed in Elastic products Used in water purification applications Used in fuel additives and solvents

Sources of Salt and Evaporite Deposits From Evaporites By John K. Warren

Relationship of Temperature and Continental Position to Evaporite Deposits From Evaporites By John K. Warren

Halite NaCl S.G Hardness 2 - 2½ Color Colorless, white, red, yellow, orange, pink, green, blue, violet, gray

Sodium Sodium Hydroxide (caustic) –Byproduct of chlorine production –Needed to making Cellophane and Nylon –Key to paper making –Supplies generally constrained by chlorine production As an alkaline agent or for making –Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium cyanide, sodium nitrate, sodium silicate may want to start with other minerals

Trona Na 3 (CO 3 )(HCO 3 )·2(H 2 O) S.G , Average = 2.13 Hardness 2.5 Color Colorless, Gray white, Grayish, Yellowish, Yellowish white. Fluorescence None

Mirabilite and Thenardite Mirabilite Na 2 SO 4 ·10(H 2 O) S.G Hardness Color Colorless, White, Yellowish white, Greenish white. Fluorescence None Thenardite Na2SO4 S.G , Average = 2.68 Hardness 2.5 Color White, Grayish white, Yellowish white, Reddish white, Brownish white. Fluorescence - Yes

Fluorine Key compound is Hydrofluoric acid –Made by reacting sulfuric acid with Flourspar Fluorocarbons are the basis of refrigerants –Chlorine removal to “protect” the ozone layer has made us more dependent on fluorine Synthetic chryolite used for aluminum making comes from fluorine Sodiumsilicofluoride is used to prevent tooth decay Fluorspar itself is a key flux in metal and ceramic making

Fluorspar CaF 2 S.G Hardness 4 Color Purple, lilac, golden-yellow, green, colorless, blue, pink, champagne, brown. Fluorescence – blue Fluorine 48.67%

Potash Potassium a key nutrient in plant growth –One of 3 K, N, P Source from evaporite deposits Brine sources are selectively precipitated to bring down potassium salts separate from others For solid sources the rock is ground and then separated by using flotation or small density differences for heavy media –There is also an electric charging process that allows the ore to be processed dry

Sylvite KCl S.G Hardness 2.5 Color White, Yellowish white, Reddish white, Bluish white, Brownish white. Fluorescence – None Potassium 52.45%

Langbeinite K 2 Mg 2 (SO 4 ) 3 S.G Hardness Color Colorless, Violet, Greenish, Gray, Yellowish. Fluorescence – Yes Potassium 18.84%

Sulfur S S.G , Average = 2.06 Hardness Color Yellow, Yellowish brown, Yellowish gray, Reddish, Greenish. Fluorescence None

Witherite BaCO 3 S.G. 4.3 Hardness Color Colorless, Milky white, Grayish white, Pale yellowish white, Pale brownish white. Fluorescence – Bluish-White Magnetic – No Barium 69.59%

Sanbornite BaSi 2 O 5 S.G Hardness 5 Color Colorless, White. Fluorescence - Yes Magnetic – No Barium 51.21%