An Egyptian Sandstone Deposit as a Source of Good Quality Kaolin and Ultra-Pure Silica Sand Part One: Sample Characterization and Separation
A kaolinitic sandstone sample from Wadi Qena deposit, the Eastern Desert of Egypt, was subjected to mineralogical and chemical characterization for possible separation of kaolin and silica sand concentrates. Attrition scrubbing process was applied in two different scenarios either on the whole crude sample or on the separate size fractions to collect both the white kaolin coating the sand grains and the sand itself. Factors affecting the process and the products after attrition were optimized and evaluated. The -0.025 mm kaolin product after the attrition scrubbing process assays 36.05% Al203, 47.72% SiO2, 0.62% Fe2O3 and 1.67% TiO2. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the kaolin product shows sharp, narrow kaolin peaks and reflects the high degree of ordering. Its brightness and whiteness optical measures satisfy the requirements of the local paper industry.
