Reflective and Emissive Spectroscopy Applied to the Classification and Quality Control of Ceramic Materials Yielded from Brazilian World Class Deposits

• Grant number: 11/18830-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Roberto de Souza Filho
• Grantee: Juliano Alves de Senna
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Spectral mineralogy comprises the study of spectral signatures of geological materials generated from analysis by optical spectroscopy (EO), considering reflective (0.4-3.0 um) and emissive (3.0-25 um) bands along the eletromagnetic spectrum. OE is an analytical technique that serves to measure the electromagnetic radiation (REM) transmitted, reflected or emitted from the surface of objects at different wavelengths. This method provides the ability to sort, classify and identify remotely Ceramic Raw Materials (CRMs) from its spectral characterization, at low cost, operating speed and precision. The advantages come from portable devices that use the natural solar radiation or an artificial source, and operate with simplicity, low power, agility, freedom of inputs and without destroying the samples. MPCs are natural geological materials with different mineral compositions, and that play a fundamental role in the economy of developed nations. In this context, the main objectives of this proposal are: (i) characterization of the properties of MPCs in reflective and emissive wavelengths, (ii) application of new methods of classification of materials for the reflective and emissive spectra, (iii) generation of a spectral library of CRMs in Brazil, (iv) mapping CRMs from multi-scale remote sensors, and (v) development of processes based on this technology for quality control of the CRMs. Brazil has numerous important world-class deposits of CRMs, some of which will be investigated in this study: (i) the Mateus Leme (MG) agalmatolite deposit (MG) - a source of pyrophyllite, (ii) the Corumbatai/Limeira (SP) clay deposit - a source of illite, (3) the Sao Simao (SP) ball-clay deposit - a source of kaolinite, and (iv) the Itaiacoca (PR)carbonate-talc deposit - a source of talc. The advantages of this study include the ability to manage the quality control of ores throughout the production chain, from mining through industrial processing.