Quantitative Analysis of Clay Minerals Using X-Ray Diffraction By Rietveld Approach - Case study: Sungun copper ore

In the current study, the two samples were taken kindly from the Sungun copper ore. Initially, more contemporary preparations on the samples were made to intensify their X-Ray patterns. Then, clay minerals were identified by inspecting their XRD patterns. To determine the quantity of clay minerals their XRD profiles were simulated using Rietveld method based on their crystallographic information. In addition, standard samples using high purity components of interest clay minerals were made by mixing for a given weight per cent. The obtained results indicated that the main types of clay minerals in the Sungun ore samples are Illite, Kaolinite and Muscovite. The comparison of the results revealed that the Rietveld method yields more valid and reliable results rather than the standard. The maximum error in determination of clay minerals for standard samples by using the Rietveld method was 3.12%. The results proved that applying whole profile fitting on XRD patterns give more reliable data than using single line fitting of XRD patterns. Further, the separation of clay minerals via contemporary preparations from the samples is crucial commission since other phases into the samples decrease dramatically the intensity and broadening of clay minerals peaks in XRD patterns, subsequently increasing the simulation error.