Ecological and Mineralogical Characterization of the Phosphorites from the Khubsugul and Dzabkhan Phosphorite-Bearing Basins of Mongolia
MARINA V. CHAIKINA1, J. AMGALAN2, F. BATTSETSEG3, A. DORJPALAM3 and D. BAYARAA4
1Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry,
Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Kutateladze 18,
Novosibirsk 630128 (Russia), E-mail: chaikina@solid.nsk.su
2Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences,
Pr. Mira 54-26, Ulaanbaatar 51 (Mongolia)
3National University of Mongolia, Ikh Surguulin Gudamy 1,
P. O. Box 46/337, Ulaanbaatar 210646 (Mongolia)
4State Pedagogical University, Baga Toiruu-14, Ulaanbaatar 210648 (Mongolia)
Pages: 387-402
Abstract
The composition of minerals, the structure of apatite and the content of ecologically controlled elements in the phosphorites from the Khubsugul (KhPB) and Dzabkhan (DPB) phosphorite-bearing basins of Mongolia are investigated. The structural chemical and mineralogical classification of the phosphorites is performed. With respect to the mineralogical composition, the major part of phosphorites belongs to the cherty and carbonate-siliceous types. The phosphate substance of the KhPB and DPB deposits is represented by hydroxylcarbonatefluoroapatite. As regards the ratio of the major components, the apatites comprising these phosphorites belong to the first subgroup of the alkaline type, i. e. are phosphorus-deficient with respect to the stoichiometric composition. The content of trace elements in phosphorites was estimated using the dimensionless universal characteristics, i. e. ecological index of phosphates, which was 1.186 for the phosphorites of the Khubsugul deposit and 1.643 for the Burenkhan deposit, which means their ecological safety and suitability for use as fertilizers without chemical processing and enrichment. The proposed classification and ecological evaluation are necessary for solving the problem concerning the choice of an optimal technology of phosphorite processing, including mechanochemical treatment as the simplest and ecologically safest one. The classification can be useful for solving the genetic problems and for the search for new phosphorite deposits.
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