Course: Topic: Date: Submitted to: Submitted by:

Engineering geology and seismology Minerals (antimony, fire clay and silica sand) 23rd September, 2013 Dr. Naveed Jawairia A. Ahmad Class no.2 Section-A 5th semester

Antimony

Antimony is a chemical element with symbol Sb and atomic number 51. It was established to be an element around the 17th century.

Etymology: The word antimony is derived from the Medieval Latin word 'antimonium'. Originally this element was called stibium (Latin). The etymology is uncertain; the popular etymology, from anti-monachos or French antimoine, still has adherents; this would mean "monk-killer", and is explained by many early alchemists being monks, and antimony being poisonous. Another popular etymology is the hypothetical Greek word antimonos, "against aloneness", explained as "not found as metal", or "not found unalloyed. Commonly it is called tin.

Occurrence: Its geological setting is hydrothermal veins. The abundance of antimony in the Earth's crust is estimated at 0.2 to 0.5 parts per million. Even though this element is not abundant, it is

found in over 100 mineral species. Antimony is sometimes found natively, but more frequently it is found in the sulphide stibnite (Sb2S3) which is the predominant ore mineral. Stibnite

Antimony in Pakistan The chief source is stibnite. Its reserves are 12,000 tons. It is located in krinj (Kamalgol), Qila Abdullah, and Pishin It is also found in Kamalgol mines in Chitral. Its production is 33% per year.

Physical Properties: Diaphaneity (Transparency): Opaque Colour: Silvery-white Streak: Grey Hardness (Mohs): 3 - 3 Tenacity: Brittle Cleavage: Perfect Fracture: Irregular/Uneven Density (measured): 6.61 - 6.71 g/cm3

Although antimony resembles a metal it has poor electrical and conductive properties and does not react chemically like a metal and is classified as semi-metallic.

Alloys: Antimony ores are mined and then mixed with other metals to form antimony alloys or combined with oxygen to form antimony oxide. It is used in antifriction alloys (such as

Babbitt metal), in bullets and lead shot, cable sheathing, type metal (for example, for linotype printing machines, solder (some "lead-free" solders contain 5% Sb), in pewter, and in hardening alloys with low tin content in the manufacturing of organ pipes.

Main uses: Antimony is used to increase the hardness of alloys, with lead alloys for batteries, with lead/copper/tin alloys for machine bearings. It is also used in automotive clutch and brake parts. The other major use is as antimony trioxide which is used for the production of flame retardant chemicals. Antimony is used in the semi-conductor industry for certain silicone wafer, diode and infra-red detector productions. Small amounts are used in production of safety matches.

Fire Clay

Fire clay is a term applied to a range of refractory clays used in the manufacture of ceramics, especially fire brick. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines fire clay very generally as a "mineral aggregate composed of hydrous silicates of aluminium (Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O) with or without free silica."

They are termed as fire clays because of their ability to withstand high temperatures.

Occurrence: Unlike conventional brick-making clay, some fire clays (especially flint clays) are mined at depth, found as a seatearth, the underclay associated with coal measures

Composition: Fire clays range from flint clays to plastic fire clays, but there are semi-flint and semi-plastic fire clays as well. Fire clays consist of natural argillaceous materials, mostly Kaolinite group clays, along with fine-grained micas and quartz, and may also contain organic matter and sulphur compounds.

Properties: High grade fire clays can withstand temperatures of 1775C (3227F), but to be referred to as a "fire clay" the material must withstand a minimum temperature of 1515C (2759F).

Chemical composition: The chemical composition typical for fire clays are 23-34% Al2O3, 50-60% SiO2 and together with various amounts of Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O and TiO2.

Uses: Fire clay is resistant to high temperatures, having fusion points higher than 1,600C, therefore it is suitable for lining furnaces, as fire brick, and manufacture of utensils used in the metalworking industries, such as crucibles, saggars, retorts and glassware. Because of its stability during firing in the kiln, it can be used to make complex items of pottery such as pipes and sanitary ware.

Silica sand

Sand: Sand is the general term for broken down granules of minerals or rocks, technically between about one-sixteenth of a millimetre to two millimetres in diameter, falling between silt and gravel in the spectrum of sizes. There are many varieties of sand in the world, each with their own unique composition and qualities. Silica sand is one of the most common varieties of sand found in the world.

Silica sand: Silica (from the Latin silex) is another name for silicon dioxide, SiO2, of which quartz is a specific latticed structure. So silica sand is quartz that over the years, through the work of water and wind, has been broken down into tiny granules. These granules can be used for many different purposes, and can be found in most non-tropical regions of the world.

The terms silica sand, quartz sand and industrial sand are commonly applied without exact definition. They are to some extent interchangeable, referring to granular materials composed primarily of quartz with minor amounts of other mineral or organic constituents such as feldspars, carbonates etc.

Properties: Silica sands are valued for a combination of chemical and physical properties. These include a high silica content in the form of quartz and very low levels of deleterious impurities especially clay and iron oxide. They typically have a narrow grain size distribution. For most applications silica sands have to conform to very closely defined specifications and consistency of quality is of critical importance. Uses: Silica sand is used in many commercial processes and products and is therefore commonly classified on the basis of its industrial use. Broadly the major industrial uses of silica sand can be categorized as following: As an abrasive in blasting sand, and in certain types of grinding and polishing materials. For various types of building products such as roofing tile and sand lime brick. In glass-making In hydraulic fracturing of oil well reservoirs; As a refractory agent in various types of foundry and moulding sands, and for the manufacture of refractory bricks. As a scouring agent it is effective for uses such as cleaning metal castings; removing paint, rust and scale; cleaning tanks and pipelines; renovating wall of stone or brick Etching glass and plastics Engraving on stone or marble

Silica sand in Pakistan: Silica sands from different areas of Pakistan were examined for their utilization in local ferrous and non-ferrous foundries. They contain >98% silica and the rest consists of Al2O3, Fe2O3, TiO2, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O. It is mainly present in Kalabagh, Karachi, and Gagiana Wahan etc.

Courtesy: www.syahimpex.com www.wisegeek.org www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publication drpervaiz-h.org/Books/geology.pdf www.wikipedia.com