Research Information System
the 23rd INTERNATIONAL APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY SYMPOSIUM (IAGS), Oviedo, Spain, 14 - 19 June 2007, pp.126-137
Rhyolitic tuff is an important preferential raw material because it is used as
alkaline and silica-containing materials. Additional to that, It is easy to
exploit, and is cheaper than many other raw materials. Rhyolitic tuffs crop
out in the Arabaalan – Elmali district (Southeast of Biga village, the Biga
Peninsula) were investigated in order to assess their potential in the
ceramic industry. The Parent rock types of this raw material are Early -
Middle Miocene aged, calcalkalen Biga volcanics are composed of mainly
rhyolite – rhyodacite lava, tuff, ignimbrite, and perlite at the base and
andesite lavas above.
Chemical and mineralogical analyses were performed on representative
samples by XRD and XRF methodologies. The chemical analyses
generally show high silica, low alumina, and low iron contents. The total alkali
content of the Arabaalan rhyolitic tuff is about 4.96 – 8.02 %. The main
mineralogical association consists of quartz, sanidine, albite and biotite
with kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite and opaque mineral. Sericite and
calcite excite as a secondary mineral.
Colour measurement, viscosity, firing shrinkage, water absorption was
tested by mineralogical and the thermal analysis techniques (TG – DTA)
and their firing behavior was investigated. From these studies it was
understood that the Arabaalan – Elmali rhyolitic tuff could be used for
ceramic industry, floor tile