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Borate deposits: An overview and future forecast with regard to mineral deposits

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 59 - 70, 25.09.2017

Abstract

The element boron does not exist
by itself in nature, it occurs in combination with oxygen and other elements in
salts, commonly called “borates”. Over 250 boron-bearing minerals have been
identified, the most common being sodium, calcium, or magnesium salts. Boron is a rare element in the nature
(average content in the Earth’s crust is 10 ppm), but extraordinary
concentrations can be found in certain places. The formation of borate deposits
can be summarized as follows; (1) a skarn group associated with intrusive and
consisting of silicates and iron oxides; (2) a magnesium oxide group hosted by
marine evaporitic sediments; (3) a sodium– and calcium–borate hydrates group
associated with lacustrine (playa lake) sediments and explosive volcanic
activity.




Borate is defined as any compound
that contains or supplies boric oxide (B2O3). A large
number of minerals contain boric oxide, but the four that are most important
from a worldwide commercial standpoint which are borax, kernite, ulexite, and
colemanite. These are produced in a limited number of countries, and Turkey has
largest borax, ulexite and colemanite reserves in the world. All the countries
are dependent upon colemanite and ulexite reserves of Turkey.




Borate exploration consists of
detailed prospecting of favorable areas followed by drilling, and uses all the
tools available to the exploration geologist. Most of the world’s commercial
borate deposits are mined by open pit methods. Brines from Searles Lake, and
presumably the Chinese sources, are recovered by either controlled evaporation
or carbonation. Boric acid is one of the final products produced from most of
the processes.




Detail mineralogical and advanced
chemical data on the individual borate minerals and associated minerals (such
as clay and lithium minerals) will increase the knowledge of borate
end-products and their incomes as well as creating new gateways to the high
technology and research on the borate minerals. These types studies will be
extremely important for borate and related mineral industry.




Very few modern industries can
get by without borates, and very few people can get by without their products.
When you consider the role boron plays in plant life, and by extension, all
life, it’s hard to imagine our world without it. Therefore, borates and their
products could be one of the main topics for sustainable development in whole
world.



References

  • [1] Helvacı C., Turkey borate deposits: geological position, economic importance and boron policies. Turkish Engineers' and Architects' Association, Chamber of Geological Engineers publications, Ankara, ISBN 975-395-582-0, No. 71, 34 s., 2003.
  • [2] Travis N. J., Cocks E. J., The Tincal Trail. A history of borax. Harrap, London, 311, 1984.
  • [3] Garrett D. E., Borates: Handbook of Deposits, Processing, Properties, and Use, Academic Press, UK (ss.226), 1998.
  • [4] Helvacı C., Federico O., Garcia-Veigas J., Rosell L., Gündoğan İ., Yücel-Öztürk Y., Neogene borate deposits: Mineralogy, petrology and sedimentology, A Workshop With Special Emphasis on the Anatolian Deposits. IESCA, İzmir (64 pp.), 2012.
  • [5] Helvacı C., Occurence of rare borate-minerals: Veatchite-A, tunellite, teruggite and cahnite in the Emet borate deposits, Turkey, Mineralium Deposita 19, 217-226, 1984.
  • [6] Floyd P. A, Helvacı C., Mittwede S. K., Geochemical discrimination of volcanic rocks associated with borate deposits: An exploration tool, J. Geochem. Explor., 60, 185-20, 1998.
  • [7] Jackson, J., McKenzie, D. 1984. Active tectonics of the Alpine-Himalayan Belt between western Turkey and Pakistan. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 77, 185-264.
  • [8] You C. F., Spivack A. J., Smith J. H., Gieskes J. M., 1993. Mobilization of boron in convergent margins: implications for the boron geochemical cycle. Geology 21, 207–210.
  • [9] Palmer M. R., Boron-isotope systematics of Hahnahera arc (Indonesia) lavas: Evidence for involvement of the subducted slab, Geology 19, 215–217, 1991.
  • [10] Leeman W. P., Sisson V. B., Geochemistry of boron and its implications for crustal and mantle processes, Rev. Mineral., 33. Mineral. Soc. Amer., pp. 645–707, 1996.
  • [11] Lisitsyn A. E., Pastushenko I. I., Prospecting, Exploration and Evaluation of Boron Occurrences, All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Geology, Moscow, 173 pp., 1983.
  • [12] Watanebe T., Geochemical cycle and concentration of boron in the earth’s crust, V.I. Verdenskii Inst. Geochim. and Anal. Chem. U.S.S.R. 2, 167-177, 1964.
  • [13] Ozol A. A., Plate tectonics and the process of volcanogenic-sedimentary formation of boron, Int. Geol. Rev., 20, 692-698, 1977.
  • [14] Kistler R. B., Helvacı C., Boron and Borates, In: Industrial Minerals and Rocks, (Donald D. Carr editor) 6th Edition, Society of Mining, Metalurgy and Exploration, Inc., 171-186, 1994.
  • [15] Helvacı C., Geological features of neogene basins hosting borate deposits: An overview of deposits and future forecast, Turkey, Bull. Min. Res. Exp., 151, 169-215, 2015.
  • [16] Grew E. S., Boron: From cosmic scarcity to 300 minerals, Elements, 13, 225-229, 2017.
  • [17] Christ C. L., Clark J. R., A crystal-chemical classification of borate structures with emphasison hydrated borates, Phys. Chem. Miner., 2, 59-87, 1977.
  • [18] Muessig S., Recent South American Borate Deposits, 2nd Svmposium on Salt, J.L. Rau, ed., Vol. 1, Northern Ohio Geological Society, Cleveland, OH, pp. 151-159, 1966.
  • [19] Grew E. S., Anovita L. M., Boron, Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry, Rev. Mineral., volume 33, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 862, 1996.
  • [20] Helvacı C., Alonso R. N., Borate deposits of Turkey and Argentina: A summary and geological comparison, Turkish J. Earth Sci., 24, 1-27, 2000.
  • [21] Helvacı C., Borates, In: Selley R. C., Cocks L. R. M, Plimer I. R., (editors) Encyclopedia of Geology, Elsevier, December 2005, vol.3, p. 510-522, 2005.
  • [22] Cooper M. A., Hawthorne F. C., Garcia-Veigas J., Alcobé X., Helvacı C., Grew E. S., Ball N. A., Fontarnauite, (Na, K)2 (Sr,Ca) (SO4) [B5O8(OH)] (H2O)2, a new sulfate-borate from Doğanlar (Emet), Kütahya Province, Western Anatolia, Turkey, Can. Mineral., 2015.
  • [23] Helvacı C., Orti F., Sedimentology and diagenesis of Miocene colemanite-ulexite deposits (Western Anatolia, Turkey), J. Sediment. Res., 68 (5), 1021-1033, 1998.
  • [24] Orti F., Helvacı C., Rosell L., Gündoğan İ., Sulphate-borate relations in an evaporitic lacustrine environmet: The Sultançayır Gypsum (Miocene, Western Anatolia), Sedimentolgy 45, 697-710, 1998.
  • [25] Helvacı C., Orti F., Zoning in the Kırka borate deposit, western Turkey: Primary evaporitic fractionation or diagenetic modifications, Can. Mineral., 42 (4), 1179-1204, 2004.
  • [26] García-Veigas J., Helvacı C., Mineralogy and sedimentology of the Miocene Göcenoluk borate deposit, Kırka district, western Anatolia, Turkey, Sediment. Geol., 290, 85–96, 2013.
  • [27] Orti F., Rosell L., Garcia-Veigas J., Helvacı C., Sulfate-borate association (Glauberite-Probertite) in the Emet Basin: Implications for evaporite sedimentology (Middle Miocene, Turkey), J. Sediment. Res., 86, 448–475, 2016.
  • [28] Barker J. M., Lefond S. J., Some Additional Borate and Zeolites from the Mesa Del Alamo Borate District, North Central Sonora, Mexico,Preprint 79-367, Society of Mining Engineers, Littleton, co, 12 pp., 1979.
  • [29] Utekhin G. M., The problem of distribution features and conditions of boron concentration in skarns (English abstract version of original 1964 paper in Russian), Economic Geology, 60, 1750-1751, 1965.
  • [30] Lyday P. A., Boron-1990, Mineral Commodify Summaries, US Bureau of Mines, 9 pp., 1991.
  • [31] Meixner H., Borate deposits of Turkey, Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute of Turkey, 125, 1-2, 1965.
  • [32] Helvacı C., Geolgy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the borate deposits and associated rocks and the Emet Valley, Turkey, PhD Thesis, University of Nottingham, England (unpublished), 1977.
  • [33] İnan K., Dunham A. C., Esson J., Mineralogy, chemistry and origin of Kırka borate deposit, Eskişehir Province, Turkey, Trans. Inst. Min. Metall., Sect. B, 82, 114-123, 1973.
  • [34] Helvacı C., Stratigraphy, minerology and genesis of the Bigadiç borate deposits, Western Turkey, Econ. Geol., 90, 1237-1260, 1995.
  • [35] Palmer M. R., Helvacı,C., The boron isotope geochemistry of the Neogene borate deposits of Western Turkey, Geochemica et Cosmochemica Acta, 61 (15), 3161-3169, 1997.
  • [36] Tombal T. D., Özkan Ş. G., Kurşun Ünver İ., Osmanlioğlu A. E., "Properties, production, uses of boron compounds and their importance in nuclear reactor technology", BORON, 1(2), 86-95, 2016.
  • [37] Muessig S., Primary borates in playa deposits: Minerals of high hydration, Economic Geology 54, 495-501, 1959.
  • [38] Aristarain L. F., Hurlbut C. S. J., Boron minarals and deposits, Mineral. Rec., 3 (165-172), 213-220, 1972.
  • [39] Özkan Ş. G., Kuyumcu H. Z., Önal G., A recent outlook for borates mining and industry in Turkey, World Min. Surf. Underground, 60 (1), 43-47, 2008.
  • [40] Rio Tinto Inc., Form 20–F - Annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010: Washington, DC, Securities and Exchange Commission, March 15 2011, (Accessed September 27, 2012, at http: //www.secinfo.com).
  • [41] Roskill Information Services Ltd., Boron – Global industry markets and outlook: London, United Kingdom, 243 pp., 2010.
  • [42] Helvacı C., Bor yataklarının genel değerlendirilmesi ve gelecek öngörüsü. Madencilik ve Yerbilimleri Dergisi, sayı 47, sayfa 66-78, 2015.
Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 59 - 70, 25.09.2017

Abstract

References

  • [1] Helvacı C., Turkey borate deposits: geological position, economic importance and boron policies. Turkish Engineers' and Architects' Association, Chamber of Geological Engineers publications, Ankara, ISBN 975-395-582-0, No. 71, 34 s., 2003.
  • [2] Travis N. J., Cocks E. J., The Tincal Trail. A history of borax. Harrap, London, 311, 1984.
  • [3] Garrett D. E., Borates: Handbook of Deposits, Processing, Properties, and Use, Academic Press, UK (ss.226), 1998.
  • [4] Helvacı C., Federico O., Garcia-Veigas J., Rosell L., Gündoğan İ., Yücel-Öztürk Y., Neogene borate deposits: Mineralogy, petrology and sedimentology, A Workshop With Special Emphasis on the Anatolian Deposits. IESCA, İzmir (64 pp.), 2012.
  • [5] Helvacı C., Occurence of rare borate-minerals: Veatchite-A, tunellite, teruggite and cahnite in the Emet borate deposits, Turkey, Mineralium Deposita 19, 217-226, 1984.
  • [6] Floyd P. A, Helvacı C., Mittwede S. K., Geochemical discrimination of volcanic rocks associated with borate deposits: An exploration tool, J. Geochem. Explor., 60, 185-20, 1998.
  • [7] Jackson, J., McKenzie, D. 1984. Active tectonics of the Alpine-Himalayan Belt between western Turkey and Pakistan. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 77, 185-264.
  • [8] You C. F., Spivack A. J., Smith J. H., Gieskes J. M., 1993. Mobilization of boron in convergent margins: implications for the boron geochemical cycle. Geology 21, 207–210.
  • [9] Palmer M. R., Boron-isotope systematics of Hahnahera arc (Indonesia) lavas: Evidence for involvement of the subducted slab, Geology 19, 215–217, 1991.
  • [10] Leeman W. P., Sisson V. B., Geochemistry of boron and its implications for crustal and mantle processes, Rev. Mineral., 33. Mineral. Soc. Amer., pp. 645–707, 1996.
  • [11] Lisitsyn A. E., Pastushenko I. I., Prospecting, Exploration and Evaluation of Boron Occurrences, All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Geology, Moscow, 173 pp., 1983.
  • [12] Watanebe T., Geochemical cycle and concentration of boron in the earth’s crust, V.I. Verdenskii Inst. Geochim. and Anal. Chem. U.S.S.R. 2, 167-177, 1964.
  • [13] Ozol A. A., Plate tectonics and the process of volcanogenic-sedimentary formation of boron, Int. Geol. Rev., 20, 692-698, 1977.
  • [14] Kistler R. B., Helvacı C., Boron and Borates, In: Industrial Minerals and Rocks, (Donald D. Carr editor) 6th Edition, Society of Mining, Metalurgy and Exploration, Inc., 171-186, 1994.
  • [15] Helvacı C., Geological features of neogene basins hosting borate deposits: An overview of deposits and future forecast, Turkey, Bull. Min. Res. Exp., 151, 169-215, 2015.
  • [16] Grew E. S., Boron: From cosmic scarcity to 300 minerals, Elements, 13, 225-229, 2017.
  • [17] Christ C. L., Clark J. R., A crystal-chemical classification of borate structures with emphasison hydrated borates, Phys. Chem. Miner., 2, 59-87, 1977.
  • [18] Muessig S., Recent South American Borate Deposits, 2nd Svmposium on Salt, J.L. Rau, ed., Vol. 1, Northern Ohio Geological Society, Cleveland, OH, pp. 151-159, 1966.
  • [19] Grew E. S., Anovita L. M., Boron, Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry, Rev. Mineral., volume 33, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 862, 1996.
  • [20] Helvacı C., Alonso R. N., Borate deposits of Turkey and Argentina: A summary and geological comparison, Turkish J. Earth Sci., 24, 1-27, 2000.
  • [21] Helvacı C., Borates, In: Selley R. C., Cocks L. R. M, Plimer I. R., (editors) Encyclopedia of Geology, Elsevier, December 2005, vol.3, p. 510-522, 2005.
  • [22] Cooper M. A., Hawthorne F. C., Garcia-Veigas J., Alcobé X., Helvacı C., Grew E. S., Ball N. A., Fontarnauite, (Na, K)2 (Sr,Ca) (SO4) [B5O8(OH)] (H2O)2, a new sulfate-borate from Doğanlar (Emet), Kütahya Province, Western Anatolia, Turkey, Can. Mineral., 2015.
  • [23] Helvacı C., Orti F., Sedimentology and diagenesis of Miocene colemanite-ulexite deposits (Western Anatolia, Turkey), J. Sediment. Res., 68 (5), 1021-1033, 1998.
  • [24] Orti F., Helvacı C., Rosell L., Gündoğan İ., Sulphate-borate relations in an evaporitic lacustrine environmet: The Sultançayır Gypsum (Miocene, Western Anatolia), Sedimentolgy 45, 697-710, 1998.
  • [25] Helvacı C., Orti F., Zoning in the Kırka borate deposit, western Turkey: Primary evaporitic fractionation or diagenetic modifications, Can. Mineral., 42 (4), 1179-1204, 2004.
  • [26] García-Veigas J., Helvacı C., Mineralogy and sedimentology of the Miocene Göcenoluk borate deposit, Kırka district, western Anatolia, Turkey, Sediment. Geol., 290, 85–96, 2013.
  • [27] Orti F., Rosell L., Garcia-Veigas J., Helvacı C., Sulfate-borate association (Glauberite-Probertite) in the Emet Basin: Implications for evaporite sedimentology (Middle Miocene, Turkey), J. Sediment. Res., 86, 448–475, 2016.
  • [28] Barker J. M., Lefond S. J., Some Additional Borate and Zeolites from the Mesa Del Alamo Borate District, North Central Sonora, Mexico,Preprint 79-367, Society of Mining Engineers, Littleton, co, 12 pp., 1979.
  • [29] Utekhin G. M., The problem of distribution features and conditions of boron concentration in skarns (English abstract version of original 1964 paper in Russian), Economic Geology, 60, 1750-1751, 1965.
  • [30] Lyday P. A., Boron-1990, Mineral Commodify Summaries, US Bureau of Mines, 9 pp., 1991.
  • [31] Meixner H., Borate deposits of Turkey, Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute of Turkey, 125, 1-2, 1965.
  • [32] Helvacı C., Geolgy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the borate deposits and associated rocks and the Emet Valley, Turkey, PhD Thesis, University of Nottingham, England (unpublished), 1977.
  • [33] İnan K., Dunham A. C., Esson J., Mineralogy, chemistry and origin of Kırka borate deposit, Eskişehir Province, Turkey, Trans. Inst. Min. Metall., Sect. B, 82, 114-123, 1973.
  • [34] Helvacı C., Stratigraphy, minerology and genesis of the Bigadiç borate deposits, Western Turkey, Econ. Geol., 90, 1237-1260, 1995.
  • [35] Palmer M. R., Helvacı,C., The boron isotope geochemistry of the Neogene borate deposits of Western Turkey, Geochemica et Cosmochemica Acta, 61 (15), 3161-3169, 1997.
  • [36] Tombal T. D., Özkan Ş. G., Kurşun Ünver İ., Osmanlioğlu A. E., "Properties, production, uses of boron compounds and their importance in nuclear reactor technology", BORON, 1(2), 86-95, 2016.
  • [37] Muessig S., Primary borates in playa deposits: Minerals of high hydration, Economic Geology 54, 495-501, 1959.
  • [38] Aristarain L. F., Hurlbut C. S. J., Boron minarals and deposits, Mineral. Rec., 3 (165-172), 213-220, 1972.
  • [39] Özkan Ş. G., Kuyumcu H. Z., Önal G., A recent outlook for borates mining and industry in Turkey, World Min. Surf. Underground, 60 (1), 43-47, 2008.
  • [40] Rio Tinto Inc., Form 20–F - Annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010: Washington, DC, Securities and Exchange Commission, March 15 2011, (Accessed September 27, 2012, at http: //www.secinfo.com).
  • [41] Roskill Information Services Ltd., Boron – Global industry markets and outlook: London, United Kingdom, 243 pp., 2010.
  • [42] Helvacı C., Bor yataklarının genel değerlendirilmesi ve gelecek öngörüsü. Madencilik ve Yerbilimleri Dergisi, sayı 47, sayfa 66-78, 2015.
There are 42 citations in total.

Details

Subjects Engineering
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Cahit Helvacı

Publication Date September 25, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 2 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Helvacı, C. (2017). Borate deposits: An overview and future forecast with regard to mineral deposits. Journal of Boron, 2(2), 59-70.