Author(s)

Maria Margarita Torres Moreno, Rogers Raphael da Rocha, Letícia Hirata Godoy

Ceramica Rochaforte, Rio Claro, Brazil.
Department of Petrology and Metalogeny, Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences, Paulista State University, Rio Claro, Brazil.

We conducted a geochemical study of the major elements of 29 clay samples from 10 mining fronts, which are used for ceramic coatings at Santa Gertrudes Ceramic Pole, São Paulo, Brazil. This region is considered as the biggest ceramic pole in Latin America. The mines are located in Corumbataí Formation (Paraná Sedimentary Basin) and are mined in bench system. The samples were analyzed as a whole and along each profile to evaluate the variation of the concentration of major elements and weathering effects. The results show a differentiation into three groups: 1) carbonate clays; 2) lower portion samples; 3) upper portion samples, and properties that allow obtaining useful information about the use and selection of raw materials to the formulation of ceramic masses and for quality control of raw materials in order to achieve products of similar quality.

Clay Minerals; Raw Material; Ceramic Coatings; Weathering

M. Margarita Torres Moreno, R. Raphael da Rocha and L. Hirata Godoy, "Major Elements Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks from Corumbataí Formation, Santa Gertrudes Ceramic Pole, São Paulo, Brazil," Geomaterials, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2014, pp. 11-17. doi: 10.4236/gm.2014.41002.