7
MINERALOGY
Table 1 is a summary of the minerals present as identified
by XRD and petrographic analysis
Table 1. Minerals identified in clinkers through petrography
and XRD
Sample
Name Mineral
Coal9 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Rutile (TiO
2 )
Coal 28 Quartz (SiO2), Goethite (a-FeO(OH)), Rutile
(TiO2)
Coal 36 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3), Kaolinite
(Al2Si2O5(OH))
Coal 88 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Calcite
(MgCa(CO
3 )
2 ),Kaolinite (Al
2 Si
2 O
5 (OH),
Unidentified iron mineral
Coal89 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Albite (NaAlSi
3 O
8 )
Coal 102 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3)
Coal 104 Quartz (SiO2)
Coal 106 Quartz (SiO
2 )
Coal 107 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Opal (SiO
2 -H
2 O), Iron Oxide (Fe
3 O
4)
Coal 108 Quartz (SiO2), Cristobalite (SiO2), Mullite
(3Al2O3SiO2), Cordierite (Mg2Al4Si5O18), high
glass content
Coal 110 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3)
Coal 117 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Kaolinite (Al
2 Si
2 O
5 (OH)
Coal 138 Quartz (SiO
2 )
Coal 140 Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8), Albite (NaAlSi3O8)
Coal 146 Quartz, (SiO2), Illite ((K,H3O)
(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2,(H2O)
Coal 167 Quartz (SiO
2 )
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS
The data suggests that the pyro-metamorphization of the
sedimentary rocks near burned coal seams have not caused
any noticeable change in the chemical composition of the
clinker rocks. The clinkers do not show economic levels
of either REE or other critical minerals, with only low to
moderate concentrations currently detected. The relation of
TREE correlating with Al2O3 suggests REE may be hosted
by clay minerals or very fine grained REE minerals.
Clinker does have potential to be a possible resource
for Al2O3 due to the enriched levels of aluminum oxides.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report is part of ongoing studies of mineral resources
in New Mexico, supported by the New Mexico Bureau
of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), Nelia
Figure 23. Coal 140 thin section polarized light scan
Figure 24. Coal 140 plane polarized light
Figure 25. Coal 140 cross polarized light. High
birefringence of the amphiboles is evident
MINERALOGY
Table 1 is a summary of the minerals present as identified
by XRD and petrographic analysis
Table 1. Minerals identified in clinkers through petrography
and XRD
Sample
Name Mineral
Coal9 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Rutile (TiO
2 )
Coal 28 Quartz (SiO2), Goethite (a-FeO(OH)), Rutile
(TiO2)
Coal 36 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3), Kaolinite
(Al2Si2O5(OH))
Coal 88 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Calcite
(MgCa(CO
3 )
2 ),Kaolinite (Al
2 Si
2 O
5 (OH),
Unidentified iron mineral
Coal89 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Albite (NaAlSi
3 O
8 )
Coal 102 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3)
Coal 104 Quartz (SiO2)
Coal 106 Quartz (SiO
2 )
Coal 107 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Hematite (Fe
2 O
3 ),Opal (SiO
2 -H
2 O), Iron Oxide (Fe
3 O
4)
Coal 108 Quartz (SiO2), Cristobalite (SiO2), Mullite
(3Al2O3SiO2), Cordierite (Mg2Al4Si5O18), high
glass content
Coal 110 Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3)
Coal 117 Quartz (SiO
2 ),Kaolinite (Al
2 Si
2 O
5 (OH)
Coal 138 Quartz (SiO
2 )
Coal 140 Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8), Albite (NaAlSi3O8)
Coal 146 Quartz, (SiO2), Illite ((K,H3O)
(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2,(H2O)
Coal 167 Quartz (SiO
2 )
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS
The data suggests that the pyro-metamorphization of the
sedimentary rocks near burned coal seams have not caused
any noticeable change in the chemical composition of the
clinker rocks. The clinkers do not show economic levels
of either REE or other critical minerals, with only low to
moderate concentrations currently detected. The relation of
TREE correlating with Al2O3 suggests REE may be hosted
by clay minerals or very fine grained REE minerals.
Clinker does have potential to be a possible resource
for Al2O3 due to the enriched levels of aluminum oxides.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report is part of ongoing studies of mineral resources
in New Mexico, supported by the New Mexico Bureau
of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), Nelia
Figure 23. Coal 140 thin section polarized light scan
Figure 24. Coal 140 plane polarized light
Figure 25. Coal 140 cross polarized light. High
birefringence of the amphiboles is evident