3
potential for values of critical minerals and REE. If values
are enriched in comparison to the average of other sedi-
mentary rocks, which means that clinkers are higher in crit-
ical minerals and REE and makes them to be economically
potential important resources of critical minerals.
In comparison to Average Upper Crust for Sedimentary
Rock values, some of the critical minerals and REE in clin-
kers are enriched or depleted. Figure 6 shows that uranium
(U) is slightly enriched with respect to the standard, while
barium (Ba), potassium (K), niobium (Nb), strontium
(Sr), and phosphorus (P) are all depleted with respect to
the standard.
A similar comparison for REE can be made when
the clinker has been compared to the Average European
Shale values. Figure 7 shows that some clinkers are slightly
enriched in REE while most are depleted in REE when
compared to the Average European Shale. In general, heavy
REE are more depleted than light REE with respect to stan-
dard values. One data point shows erratic REE enrichment
and may be a suspect analysis.
The highest total rare earth elements (TREE) value
found in any clinker has been relatively low with only 323
ppm TREE, however a positive correlation has been seen
between Al2O3 and TREE, which suggests that REE may
be found in or adsorbed onto clay minerals. Some clinkers
are enriched in Al2O3, up to 40%.
The highest critical minerals currently found in clin-
kers have been lithium (Li) (70 ppm), vanadium(V) 114
ppm, nickel(Ni) 108ppm, and zircon(Zr) 557 ppm. Zircon
has been shown to have a slightly postive trend in relations
to TREE found in clinker, suggesitng REE correlates with
Zircon.
PETROGRAPHY AND XRD (X-RAY
DIFFRACTION)
Several samples have had petrography performed with
transmitted light microscopy. The dominant minerals pres-
ent in all samples examined have been quartz, clay miner-
als, and hematite. The amount of each of these minerals
varies per sample.
Figure 4. Chondrite normalized patterns of Coal
Figure 5. Chondrite normalized patterns of Clinker
Figure 6. Clinker normalized to Average Upper Crust for
Sedimentary Rocks
Figure 7. Clinker normalized to Average European Shale
potential for values of critical minerals and REE. If values
are enriched in comparison to the average of other sedi-
mentary rocks, which means that clinkers are higher in crit-
ical minerals and REE and makes them to be economically
potential important resources of critical minerals.
In comparison to Average Upper Crust for Sedimentary
Rock values, some of the critical minerals and REE in clin-
kers are enriched or depleted. Figure 6 shows that uranium
(U) is slightly enriched with respect to the standard, while
barium (Ba), potassium (K), niobium (Nb), strontium
(Sr), and phosphorus (P) are all depleted with respect to
the standard.
A similar comparison for REE can be made when
the clinker has been compared to the Average European
Shale values. Figure 7 shows that some clinkers are slightly
enriched in REE while most are depleted in REE when
compared to the Average European Shale. In general, heavy
REE are more depleted than light REE with respect to stan-
dard values. One data point shows erratic REE enrichment
and may be a suspect analysis.
The highest total rare earth elements (TREE) value
found in any clinker has been relatively low with only 323
ppm TREE, however a positive correlation has been seen
between Al2O3 and TREE, which suggests that REE may
be found in or adsorbed onto clay minerals. Some clinkers
are enriched in Al2O3, up to 40%.
The highest critical minerals currently found in clin-
kers have been lithium (Li) (70 ppm), vanadium(V) 114
ppm, nickel(Ni) 108ppm, and zircon(Zr) 557 ppm. Zircon
has been shown to have a slightly postive trend in relations
to TREE found in clinker, suggesitng REE correlates with
Zircon.
PETROGRAPHY AND XRD (X-RAY
DIFFRACTION)
Several samples have had petrography performed with
transmitted light microscopy. The dominant minerals pres-
ent in all samples examined have been quartz, clay miner-
als, and hematite. The amount of each of these minerals
varies per sample.
Figure 4. Chondrite normalized patterns of Coal
Figure 5. Chondrite normalized patterns of Clinker
Figure 6. Clinker normalized to Average Upper Crust for
Sedimentary Rocks
Figure 7. Clinker normalized to Average European Shale