Characterization of the parameters for concentrating zircons from andesites, monzogranites, rhyolites, quartzites and quartz monzonites
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32685/0120-1425/boletingeo.44.2018.6Keywords:
zircon, geochronology, crushing, pulverization, screening, Wilfley table, isodynamic Frantz separator, dense liquids
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Abstract
The Medellin chemical laboratory of the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (Colombian Geological Survey) is conducting research to characterize the different parameters involved in the process of concentrating zircons for U-Pb LA-ICP-MS geochronology analysis. This methodology was applied to five different rock types, including andesites, rhyolites, quartzites, monzogranites and quartz monzonites; the stages of this process were as follows: grinding (crushing, pulverizing and screening), gravimetric concentration on a Wilfley table, magnetic concentration in an isodynamic Frantz separator, separation using LST dense liquids (lithium polytungstate), zircon picking and detailed sample mount preparation. The methodology consisted of performing tests on five samples of each rock type in order to find the best particle size during the grinding stage, the best forward and side angles on the Wilfley table and the best side and forward angles for the isodynamic Frantz separator to obtain the largest amount of zircons for U-Pb LA-ICP-MS geochronology analysis.
References
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