MINERALOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY AND ECONOMIC I EVALUATION OF SOME KAOLIN OCCURRENCES IN EGYPT

Abstract

The present work is concerned with the geology, mineralogy, geochemistry and economic evaluation of the Carboniferous and Cretaceous kaolin in west central Sinai (Egypt). Some selected localities representing the Carboniferous kaolin included: El Esila, El Khaboba and El Shalla!. The Cretaceous kaolin deposits were collected from El Tih , Mussaba Salama and El Dehesa areas. The X-ray diffraction analysis, differential thermal analysis and thermogravemitric analysis proved that the deposits in all localities are composed mainly of kaolinite and quartz with subordinate amounts of montmorillonite and illite and small amounts of hematite, goethite and alunite (mainly in El Khaboba).