Comprehensive crystal chemical analysis as a stage of mineralogical and technological assessment of solid mineral ores

The purpose of this article is to substantiate the importance of comprehensive crystal chemical analysis in the mineralogical and technological assessment of solid mineral ores. On example of rare silicate minerals (tinaksite, tokkoite, potassium-hastingsite, and others) selected from the deposits of various genetic types the effectiveness of the integration of modern analytical methods including X-ray structural analysis, electron probe microanalysis, Mössbauer, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, as well as optical spectroscopy and luminescence was demonstrated. The study obtained quantitative data on cation distribution by structural positions, iron valence state spectra features associated with OH vibrations, and luminescent characteristics. The identified quantitative “composition-structure-properties” correlations enabled the solution of such fundamental tasks as determining crystal chemical formulas and mechanisms of isomorphic substitutions, studying ion exchange and redox processes, reconstructing mineral formation conditions, and analyzing the nature of functional properties. The obtained results provided a basis for predicting the technological behavior of mineral raw materials and developing genetic criteria. Among other things, it has been convincingly demonstrated that the comprehensive approach to assessing solid mineral ores enables a transition from empirical description to predictive modeling making a significant contribution to both the development of fundamental mineralogy and the solution of applied problems in rational subsoil use. The established patterns and developed methodological principles open up new prospects for the creation of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for processing mineral raw materials with the targeted use of their functional properties.

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