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Non-Metal Mineral Materials and Their Non-destructive Characterization and Testing Valentin D. Vladimirov Dept of Mineralogy, Petrology & Economic Geology, Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski 15 Tzar Osvoboditel, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria E-mail : valentin@gea.uni-sofia.bg Contact

Abstract

The relative importance of metallic and industrial minerals and the role of nondestructive methods is discussed. Why man come to industrial minerals again? There are three main groups of reasons for this. The geological reasons are:
1. they are widespread;
2. they have enormous reserves;
3. they are easy accessible.
Economically:
1. their development needs less investments;
2. they are cheaper to obtain;
3. they are more effective.
Technologically:
1. they needs less processing;
2. their obtaining needs less energy;
3. they have less technological effect to the environment;
4. very probable they possess exceptionally attractive properties for the industry.
Just someone have to define their characteristics and to show them to engineers and constructors. The aim of this paper is to popularize nondestructive rocks evaluation and on this background to create rock physical properties data base, for the needs of: construction activity; industry; geological genetically reconstructions; natural and technogenic hazard assessments; nuclear and high toxic waste disposition; environment protection and many others. The obvious tendency of industrial minerals consumption increasing, define enlargement of nondestructive rocks evaluation services;

Key words: nondestructive rocks evaluation; industrial minerals; metals; reserves; economy development; investments; industry; technology; construction activity; geological genetically reconstructions; natural and technogenic hazard assessments; environment protection; waste disposition;

The aim this paper is to popularize nondestructive rocks evaluation and on this background to create rock physical properties data base, for the needs of: construction activity; industry; geological genetically reconstructions; natural and technogenic hazard assessments; nuclear and high toxic waste disposition; environment protection and many others.

Fig 1: Growth comparisions for mineral products.In each case the index for 1900 is 100.(After Anon.1977,(in 1))


When we speak for the Nondestructive evaluation usually this means that the subjects studied are metal and predominantly iron. In the most cases this means that investigated materials are comparatively homogenous materials with quite well known physical properties, composition and forming conditions (genesis). This is result of the human needs, because the most widespread materials are metal.
From about one century it changed and the man "come back to stone age" again.
Today usual rocks or industrial minerals in geological terms, permeate every segment of the society. They occur as components in durable and non-durable consumer goods, from construction of buildings to the manufacture of ceramic tables or sanitary ware but nevertheless they are unappreciated.
Bristow has made the interesting remark that at some point in the time during the development of an industrialized country, industrial minerals become more important in terms of value of production than metals (Tables 1, 2 and Figure 1).

Fig 2: Spanish mining production.Mineral values are in millions of constant pesetas indexed to 1970(1)

Fig 3: Relative importance of industrial and ore minerals exploitation in evolving economics (After Bristow 1987a in (1))

This happened in the UK in the nineteenth century, in the USA early in this century, in Spain in the early seventies and in younger economies, like Australia's, it is only just happening (Figures 2,3)

Product	1966-1973 (%)	1973-1980 (%)
Crude oil	70	7
Industrial minerals	29	16
Metals	54	7
TABLE 1 : Average growth rates in world production. (After The Economist World Business Cycles 1982)

Category of solid minerals	World production 103 t	World production %	Value of output 106 US$	Value of output %
Industrial minerals	11 798 630	72	129 147	40
Solid fuel minerals	4 004 287	24	122 285	38
Metals and oresa	543 580	4	39 007	13
Precious minerals	14	1	30 341	9
Totals	16 346 512	100	320 781	100
TABLE 2 : Tonnage and value of mineral products in 1983 (From Noetstaller, 1983, (1))

(a) Iron is included in this table as iron ore

Why man come to industrial minerals again? There are three main groups of reasons for this (Vladimirov, V. D. 1999).

The geological reasons are:

1. they are widespread;
2. they have enormous reserves;
3. they are easy accessible.

Economically:

1. their development needs less investments;
2. they are cheaper to obtain;
3. they are more effective.

Technologically:

1. they needs less processing;
2. their obtaining needs less energy;
3. they have less technological effect to the environment;
4. very probable they possess exceptionally attractive properties for the industry.
Just someone have to define their characteristics and to show them to engineers and constructors.
Our experience in rocks nondestructive investigation is significant. It is important because they are heterogeneous media, very difficult for studding, with just approximately known formation conditions. From other side, the obvious tendency of industrial minerals consumption increasing, define enlargement of nondestructive rocks evaluation services.

REFERENCES

1. Evans A. M., Ore Geology and Industrial Minerals: An Introduction, Oxford;
   Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1993, ch. 1, pp. 5-10
2. Vladimirov, V. D. 1999. Why we have to characterize rocks nondestructively?
   Nondestructive Characterization Of Materials IX, Edited by Robert E. Green, Jr.,
   American Institute of Physics, NY, 291-294

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