Structural and Qualitative Analysis of Solid Minerals (Marble) in Selected Locations in Nigeria
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Date
2013
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Publisher
Nigerian Institute of Physics
Abstract
Marbles are formed from the recrystallization of limestone or dolomite during metamorphism and occur as a coarse-grain rock composed of interlocking calcite crystals. The structural and porosity analysis of some selected Nigerian marbles were investigated with a view of establishing crystal configuration and constituents of the marble in Nigeria namely: Igbeti, Oyo State; Olayinka, Kwara State; Jakura, Kogi State; Biribiri, Niger State and Takalafia, Nassarawa State. The samples were examined by X-ray diffraction which confirmed the presence of CaCO3 in all the samples. Other constituents present are Calcium Magnesium, Calcium Magnesium Carbonates, and Magnesium Carbide. The average grain sizes of the Samples are 32.15, 31.42, 31.47 and 30.95 nm from Igbeti, Olayinka, Biribiri, Takalafia, and Jakura respectively. The samples were further examined by density profiling to determine the porosity of the marble samples. The comparison of the dry and wet density of the samples in percentage change in density revealed the porosity of all the samples and it was deduced that the marble sample has different pore size due to their formation processes. The porosity for the samples are as follow: from Igbeti (69%), Biribiri (62.4%), Takalafia (24.9%), Olayinka (10.3%), and Jakura (13.8%).
Description
Keywords
Marble, XRD, Porosity, Grain size, Location and Calcium Carbonate.