Nonmetallic Minerals

Secretaría Sectorial del Poder Popular para las Minas y
Canteras del Estado Aragua
Nonmetallic Minerals
Prospecting Areas – Geological Exploration
ARAMICA - GEOMATIK CONSULTORES
2015
Aragua state
Aragua state is located in the north-central region of Venezuela, and its limits the Caribbean
Sea to the north; Guarico state in the south; Vargas, Miranda and Guárico by the east and
Carabobo and Guarico states to the west. Presents a historical geology and fascinating
geodynamics, which causes because of sedimentary and alluvial processes in the South
Central region, you can find non-metallic mineral resources such as limestone, silica (silica
sand), barite and clays are major minerals and another variety in smaller scale. In previous
years we have tried to carry out several projects in function of determining the non-metallic
mining potential of this region, but the technology for those times made this work a
daunting and complex task motivated geomorphology present in the state. However,
already today with the development of geomatics, using remote sensing, and advanced
computing applications, geological, mining and geographic information systems, make
prospecting and mineral exploration feasible in less time and cost.
The quality of non-metallic mineral resources of the region and its geographical location
indicates that the non-metallic mining is an important industry to develop in the State, with
public and private investment, we can reach a sustainable economic development, capable
to exploit non-renewable natural resources without compromising environmental stability,
all with the aim of providing competitive solutions to the construction industry, metallurgical
and infrastructure on a regional, national and international levels.
Limestone
peccion'
Prospesting Area
105 Km²
105 Km²
Estimated Volume
10.701.553.922,76 m³
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of
calcium carbonate (CaCO3), calcite generally mostly,
but often presents traces of magnesite (MgCO3) and
other carbonates. It may also contain small amounts
of minerals such as clay, hematite, siderite and
quartz.
Uses
Limestone has multiple use. In the ceramics industry for the
manufacture of glass and refractory; in the construction
industry as aggregate and soil stabilization and roads. It is
used in chemicals, and the production of pulp and paper.To
the environment it is used in the treatment of water,
wastewater, industrial waste, food packing industry in the
removal of sulfur from the flue gas and neutralizer of acidic
soils. In foods, it is used in the milk industry, sugar, gelatin
and artificial rubber, bakery, fruit and vegetable storage and
disinfectant. Their use is widespread in the field of coatings,
pigments, water paints, and varnishes. In the area of
metallurgy, it is used in the steel industry, manufacturing of
magnesium and alumina, metal flotation and smelting of nonferrous metals, among others.
Analysis of
X-ray
fluorescence
CaCo₃
70 – 97%
SiO₂
3 – 20%
MgO
0,2 – 2%
Al₂ O₃
0,4 – 5%
Fe₂ O₃
0,1 – 3%
Fluorescence data taken from:CARRERO, R ; RIVERO, R. Caracterización geológica y cálculo de volumen de calizas en una
zona ubicada al norte de San Sebastián de los Reyes, EDO. Aragua. UCV, Facultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Geología, Minas y
Geofísica. 2013.
Silica Sand
Prospecting Area
79 Km²
Estimated Volume
7.241.487.158,38 m³
Silica sand is a compound resulting from the
combination of silica with oxygen. Its chemical
composition is formed by a silicon atom and two
oxygen atoms, forming a very stable molecule: SiO2.
This molecule is insoluble in water and is found in
nature as quartz.
Uses
Industrial uses of silica derived from their important physical and
chemical properties, especially highlighting its hardness, chemical
resistance, high melting point, piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity and
transparency. It is the main raw material for the manufacture of glass and
porcelain. Its sands are used especially as a filter bed for treatment and
purification of water and its hardness, they are used for the manufacture
of bleaches, industrial abrasives and sanding. It is a very important raw
material for electronic equipment, the composition of detergent
formulations, paints, concrete, special mortars and refractory silica.
From the silica sand can produce specific size fractions intended for
industrial markets as diverse as water purification factories, sanded,
ceramic flooring, paints, resins, china, epoxy, sports fields, swimming
pools and others.
Chemical
Analysis
SiO₂
95 – 99%
FeO₃
0,1 – 2%
Fine Granular
Materials
70 – 80%
Chemistry data taken from: Estudio de Analisis Químico tomado del Fundo Las Guasdas, Municipio Julian Mellado, parroquóa El
Sombrero. Estado Guarico. Realizado por VENVIDRIO, 2015. A 20Km de Aragua, perteneciente a la misma unidad Litodémica de
las Galeras de GUarumen. Mienbro Galera de la FormaciónQuebradón. Aragua. Fundacite, 1996.
Barite
Prospecting Area
159
Km²
159
Km²
Estimated Volume
Jurásico
- Cretácico
26.272.960.263,2
m³
Barytes or barite, Greek Baros ("heavy", a
word that also gave rise to barium), is a
mineral of the class of sulfates and AXO4
type. It is chemically barium sulfate
(BaSO4). It is the principal ore of barium.
Uses
The Barite is used in the oil industry for the manufacture of drilling
fluids High density with specific weights between 4.2 - 4.4 and with
zero abrasiveness. Barite is the only source of inexpensive used for
making these fluids. It is also used for satin and give weight to the
board and the role of art prints and silk material. Ground is used as
a white colorant. Used for the preparation
of chemical compounds.
.
It is used in the production of hydrogen peroxide, in the
manufacture of white pigments and paints as a mineral filler in the
rubber industry. It used especially in the production of lithopone, a
combination of sulfur and sulfates used for coatings. It is used also
in the brake industry, glass and coated in X-ray rooms
Chemical
Analysis
Ba
60 – 70%
Zn
2 – 10%
Cu
1 – 4%
Pb
1 – 2%
Associated minerals
Sphalerite, gold, pyrite, chalcopyrite,
galena, tennantite, bomita,
tetrahedrite, quartz and azurite
Chemistry data taken from: SAAVEDRA, J; PEÑA; et al. Estudio de Prospección de Áreas con Mineralizaciones de Barita, Área
Qda. El Chino – Río Pao, Estado Aragua. Papeles de Fundacite Aragua. Fundacite, 1996de Aragua, perteneciente a la misma
unidad Litodémica de las Galeras de GUarumen. Mienbro Galera de la FormaciónQuebradón. Aragua. Fundacite, 1996.
Clay
Prospecting Area
Estimated Volume
159 Km²
10.035.000.000 m³
From the mineralogical
point
of
view,
it
encompasses a group of
minerals (clay minerals),
mostly
phyllosilicates,
whose physicochemical
properties depend on its
structure and its grain
size, very fine (less than
2mm) . From the point of
view petrological clay is
a sedimentary rock, in
most cases of detrital
origin, with well-defined
characteristics. From the
economic point of view
clays are a group of
industrial minerals with
different
mineralogical
and
genetic
characteristics and with
different
technological
properties
and
applications.
.
2024 Km²
Holoceno
Uses
The main use of these clay materials is in the field of
construction ceramics (roofing tiles, bricks, pipes, tiles),
traditional pottery, earthenware, stoneware and tiles.
Virtually all clays are suitable for these applications,
prioritizing economic considerations.
They are also used
.
in the manufacture of cement, as a source of alumina and
silica, and in the production of lightweight aggregates
(expanded clay). Uses in pharmaceutical industry, civil
engineering, drilling muds, agriculture, manufacture of
detergents, paints, pelletizing and absorbent.
Chemical
Analysis
Sand:
10 – 20%
Silt:
25 – 35%
Clay:
45 – 60%
Presence of elements such
as phosphorus and
potassium on a smaller
scale and mainly the
presence of calcium and
magnesium
Chemistry data taken from: OVALLES,F. Caracterizaciónde los cambios espaciales del suelo en unn sitio experimental en tierra
Nueva, Estado Aragua. INIA,2005.
Comparative Table of Nonmetallic Mineral Potential of Aragua State from
Venezuela
Nonmetallic mineral
Area
(Km²)
Surface area
(m²)
Volume (m³)
Roads
Type of
Extraction
Explosives
International
Market
($/Ton)
Limestone
105
87.777.025,43
10.701.553.922,76
0,62 m iles to the
National Highw ay
Open cast
m ining /
blastibg
circuit
If applicable
60 - 300
7.241.487.158,38
17 m iles to the
National Highw ay / 1
m ile construction is
needed
Open pin
m ining
Do not applies
100 - 300
Open cast
m ining /
blastibg
circuit
If applicable
80 - 300
Open pin
m ining
Do not applies
70 - 300
Silica Sand
79
71.378.035,81
Barite
159
123.125.312,10
26.272.960.263,20
2,8 m iles to the
National Highw ay /
0,5 m ile
construction is
needed
Clay
2007
2.007.000.000,00
10.035.000.000,00
0,62 m iles to the
National Highw ay