Apatite Group Minerals in the Spanish River Carbonatite- a tool for targeted extraction********

西班牙河碳酸盐岩中的磷灰石族矿物 - 定向提取的工具********

• 批准号: 537607-2019
• 负责人: Corcoran, Patricia
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=648076
• 关键词: Apatite; Group; Minerals; Spanish; River

Boreal Agrominerals Inc. (BAI) explores for, develops and produces organic approved agromineral fertilizers and soil amendment products. The company's main source of fertilizer material is quarried from the outer core of the Spanish River Carbonatite (SRC), located approximately 55 km NW of Sudbury, Ontario. Quarried quantities are limited due to poor outcrop exposure resulting from reforestation and overburden >30 m thick on the property. Consequently, the relative distribution, types and internal textures of significant phosphorous (P)- and potassium (K)-bearing minerals within the different zones of the SRC remain poorly known. BAI aims to target the purest and most optimal minerals for use in organic and conventional farming practices, which will minimize the negative effects of quarrying to the surrounding flora and fauna.**Apatite group minerals account for 12% of the SRC mineralogy. These minerals are excellent sources of P and K, which are vital for plant growth and are essential nutrients for life. Evaluating the distribution, types and textures of apatite minerals throughout the different zones of the SRC will enable determination of which apatite mineral varieties are most reactive and should be targeted for quarrying. In addition to the environmental benefits of focused quarrying, the increased efficiency will result in BAI becoming even more competitive in the organic agriculture marketplace on a global scale.**We will investigate apatite group minerals in the SRC by: 1) studying and sampling deposits exposed at the surface and in quarries already developed in the SRC, 2) logging and sampling drill core held by BAI and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), 3) analyzing apatite group minerals using cathodoluminesce (CL) spectroscopy to identify zones and textures in each mineral, and 4) analyzing apatite group minerals using an electron microprobe to determine the chemical compositions of the different mineral zones. The results will assist BAI in extracting fertilizer material with the greatest potential of reactivity. ******

Boreal Agrominerals Inc. (BAI)探索，开发和生产有机批准的农用矿物肥料和土壤改良剂产品。该公司的主要肥料原料来源是从西班牙河碳酸盐岩（SRC）的外部核心开采，位于安大略萨德伯里西北约55公里处。由于重新造林导致的露头暴露不良以及矿区上超过30 m厚的覆盖层，开采量有限。因此，SRC不同区域内重要的含磷（P）和含钾（K）矿物的相对分布、类型和内部结构仍然知之甚少。BAI的目标是将最纯净和最佳的矿物用于有机和传统的农业实践，这将最大限度地减少采石对周围植物群和动物群的负面影响。磷灰石族矿物占SRC矿物学的12%。这些矿物质是磷和钾的良好来源，对植物生长至关重要，是生命必需的营养素。评估SRC不同区域中磷灰石矿物的分布、类型和质地，将能够确定哪些磷灰石矿物品种最具反应性，应作为采石的目标。除了集中采石的环境效益外，提高效率将使BAI在全球范围内的有机农业市场上更具竞争力。我们将通过以下方式研究SRC中的磷灰石类矿物：1）研究和采样在地表和SRC中已经开发的采石场中暴露的沉积物，2）由BAI和皇家安大略博物馆（ROM）保存的测井和采样岩心，3）使用阴极发光（CL）光谱分析磷灰石组矿物，以识别每种矿物中的区域和结构，和4）使用电子显微探针分析磷灰石族矿物以确定不同矿物带的化学组成。这些结果将有助于BAI提取具有最大反应潜力的肥料材料。 ******