APPLICATION OF IR SPECTROSCOPY TO QUANTIT ATIVE-ANALYSIS OF ZEOLITE-CONTAINING ROCKS

An infrared spectroscopy method for quantitative determination of the zeolite content in heulandite-clinoptilolite tuffs has been suggested. The calibration curves were obtained for optical density (602-610, 12 02-1212, and 1629-cm(-1) bands) versus zeolite mass (single-crystallin e heulandite from Nidym and/or 95 wr.% clinoptilolite from Arizona) in KBr pellet. Using these curves, the content of heulandite in the tuff s of Pegas deposit and clinoptilolite in the tuffs of Shivyrtui and Kh onguruu deposits were determined. The results of IR spectroscopy metho d were proved to be fairly consistent with those of X-ray quantitative analysis, if the rock sample does not contain impurities with the abs orption bands, which may overlap with those of zeolite. The possible e ffect of montmorillonite on the bands at 610 and 1212 cm(-1) was studi ed by measuring the optical density of these bands in the LR spectra o f the mixtures prepared with various clinoptilolite/montmorillonite ra tio. The calibration obtained for the 1212-cm(-1)band proved to be val id for the quantitative analysis og the rocks, containing up to 60 wt. % montmorillonite. Thus it may be concluded that the quantitative IR a nalysis may be quite successful, if to take into account the possible effect of impurity minerals and to meet the constant conditions of pre paring samples and recording the IR spectra.