Magnesite and bauxite ores as petrophysical objects of spectral-grade estimation based on electrometry (from the archives of oxide-metric exploration in the Ural deposits)

Research subject. Distribution of magnesite and bauxite ores in mining blocks of deposits according to electrical conductivity in connection with signals of scattered phases of Ca, Mg and Al oxides. Petrophysical objects and differentiation of the properties of oxides detected in the boundary area and at the boundary with dielectrics, the semiconductor range in the geochemical environment of metamorphic formations from carbonate sediments.

Materials and methods. An approach of searching for stationary features was applied. First, a study at the elemental level (review) was undertaken. Further, the authors’ electrometric measurements of the deposits were analyzed. Results. In the review part, the analysis of the metal constants – the relative electronegativity of the OEO (Luo and Benson scale), the electronic potentials E0, and the relationship of electrical resistance and pressure in pure elements was performed. The inversion of the properties of CaO ↔ MgO was revealed (for the first time in 2002–2004); Ca was identified as a reducing agent (CaO is a solid dielectric), which contradicts the current ideas about the comparative additivity of light Mg. It was established that MgO is a separate source of semiconductor carriers. Favourable conditions for studying the conductivity during the experimental part of the work were the absolute exchange increments of ore oxides at geological contacts. The properties of ores, rocks and oxides were measured and calculated. The relationships of the varietal growth of conductivity with compaction, increased basicity and magnetic susceptibility (magnetization) were predicted. This, in turn, provides a basis for studying cores, samples from debris, shredding and recycled geo-material, including concentrates, tailings and waste.

Conclusions. The spectral properties of scattered oxides with atomic numbers ≤ 20 were identified. The activation effect of MgO and Al2O3 in the ionic medium (CaCO3 = CaO+CO2) was noted. In the phenomena of the semiconductor nature (n- and psources), a version of the donor-acceptor mechanism was proposed. The established properties are a factor in the implementation of measuring identification of oxides and ore grades in the conditions of deposits, both in the estimates of carbonate chemical types of terrigenous fossils, and plagioclase-pyroxene – in igneous ones. Varietal exploration and prototype electrometry were discussed from the standpoint of high-precision interpretation in the potential and replenishment combination of various petrophysical meters.

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