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Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2024 | Viewed by 4420

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Dr. Gorazd Žibret

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Department of Mineral Resources and Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva ulica 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: mineral raw materials; ore deposits; construction materials; secondary raw materials
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Dr. Vilma Ducman

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Guest Editor

Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: concrete; building; building materials; ceramics; materials; material; characterization; nanomaterials; civil engineering materials; concrete technologies; construction material
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Dr. Lea Žibret

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Guest Editor Assistant

Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva 12, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: alkali-activated material; clay-based materials; clay bricks; secondary raw materials; geology; X-ray diffraction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Material sciences support society by means of research and development of new, advanced, and environmental and health-friendly materials we all use for everyday activities. Among them are mineral raw materials, like iron and ferro-alloy metals, non-ferrous metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, mineral fuels, and materials for the construction industry. These "primary" raw materials are extracted from the earth and are precursors for various engineered materials, which are used for the vast number of different products we are using in everyday life, including products for construction, transportation, energy production and supply, telecommunications, home appliances, products for green transition, packaging, etc. To safeguard primary raw materials, the use of "secondary" raw materials has been gaining increased importance. The “Secondary” raw materials are materials, which are recycled raw materials that can be used in manufacturing processes instead of or alongside virgin raw materials

This Special Issue aims to explore various aspects within mineral material life cycles (both primary and secondary): geological occurrences and extraction, processing and metallurgy, engineered mineral materials (such as cements, ceramics, geopolymers, composites, adsorbents, etc.), and their application, recycling, and disposal. Papers shall aim to explore chemical, geochemical, mineralogical, and environmental factors, engineering, life cycle assessment, and other aspects related to rock and mineral materials.

Dr. Gorazd Žibret
Dr. Vilma Ducman
Dr. Lea Žibret
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

primary and secondary mineral raw materials
engineered materials
lifecycle analysis
construction
disposal
recycling

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 7199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design, Characterization, and Incorporation of the Alkaline Aluminosilicate Binder in Temperature-Insulating Composites

by Pavlo Kryvenko, Igor Rudenko, Oleksandr Konstantynovskyi and Oleksandr Gelevera

Materials 2024, 17(3), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030664 - 29 Jan 2024

Viewed by 578

Abstract

This paper covers the design of binder formulations and technology for low-energy building materials based on alkaline aluminosilicate binders developed for special uses. The microstructure of the binders was investigated using scanning electron and atomic force microscopy examination techniques. The identification of phase compositions was performed by means of X-ray diffraction. The degree of binding of the alkali metal ions within the binder was determined with the help of chemical analysis of the pore fluid. Structure formation depending upon binder mix design and curing conditions was also studied. Some examples of the manufacture and application of binder-based glues and adhesives, including those developed for heat insulation and fire prevention, are discussed. The advantages of binder-based temperature-insulating composite materials compared with traditionally used materials are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials)

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35 pages, 9562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Accuracy of Bonded Block Models for Prediction of Rockmass Analog Mechanical Behavior

by Isabella West, Gabriel Walton and Sankhaneel Sinha

Materials 2024, 17(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010088 - 23 Dec 2023

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Abstract

Large-scale rock formations, referred to as “rockmasses”, consist of intact rock separated by pre-existing discontinuities (i.e., joints). The mechanical behavior of rockmasses is difficult to directly test in the laboratory due to the required specimen scale. Instead, Synthetic Rockmass Modeling (SRM) is often used to simulate field-scale rockmass behavior. SRM requires a calibrated discrete element model (DEM) of intact rock combined with a Discrete Fracture Network (DFN). While the SRM concept has been informally determined to provide reasonable results based on practitioner experience, detailed and peer-reviewed validation is lacking. The goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive capabilities of the SRM method. Previously available data on intact and rockmass analog laboratory specimens of Blanco Mera granite containing DFNs with two joint sets were used as a basis for the SRM created in this study. Specifically, the intact DEM was a Bonded Block Model (BBM), generated to match the grain structure and composition of Blanco Mera granite and the model’s input parameters were calibrated so that the behavior of the BBM matched that of the intact laboratory specimens. The predictive capabilities of the model were evaluated by recreating the DFN from the jointed laboratory specimens within the intact BBM and comparing the behavior of the jointed models back to the jointed laboratory specimens, which has not been previously studied in the literature. The BBM was found capable of approximately predicting the behavior of rockmass analog specimens containing a pre-existing DFN without further calibration, which shows potential for the use of SRM in both industry and academia. Specifically, the BBM predicted the strength, dilatancy, and microfracturing behavior of the jointed laboratory specimens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials)

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22 pages, 9321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Minerals from Inclusions in Corundum Xenocrysts from Mt. Carmel, Israel: Magnéliite, Ziroite, Sassite, Mizraite-(Ce) and Yeite

by Chi Ma, Fernando Cámara, Luca Bindi, Vered Toledo and William L. Griffin

Materials 2023, 16(24), 7578; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16247578 - 9 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 968

Abstract

Our nanomineralogical investigation of melt inclusions in corundum xenocrysts from the Mt. Carmel area, Israel has revealed seven IMA-approved new minerals since 2021. We report here four new oxide minerals and one new alloy mineral. Magnéliite (Ti³⁺₂Ti⁴⁺₂O₇; IMA 2021-111) occurs as subhedral crystals, ~4 μm in size, with alabandite, zirconolite, Ti,Al,Zr-oxide, and hibonite in corundum Grain 767-1. Magnéliite has an empirical formula (Ti³⁺_1.66Al_0.13Ti⁴⁺_0.15Mg_0.10Ca_0.01Sc_0.01)_Σ2.06 (Ti⁴⁺_1.93Zr_0.08)_Σ2.01O₇ and the triclinic P

\bar{1}

Ti₄O₇-type structure with the cell parameters: a = 5.60(1) Å, b = 7.13(1) Å, c = 12.47(1) Å, α = 95.1(1)°, β = 95.2(1)°, γ = 108.7(1)°, V = 466(2) Å³, Z = 4. Ziroite (ZrO₂; IMA 2022-013) occurs as irregular crystals, ~1–4 μm in size, with baddeleyite, hibonite, and Ti,Al,Zr-oxide in corundum Grain 479-1a. Ziroite has an empirical formula (Zr_0.72Ti⁴⁺_0.26Mg_0.02Al_0.02Hf_0.01)_Σ1.03O₂ and the tetragonal P4₂/nmc zirconia(HT)-type structure with the cell parameters: a = 3.60(1) Å, c = 5.18(1) Å, V = 67.1(3) Å³, Z = 2. Sassite (Ti³⁺₂Ti⁴⁺O₅; IMA 2022-014) occurs as subhedral-euhedral crystals, ~4–16 μm in size, with Ti,Al,Zr-oxide, mullite, osbornite, baddeleyite, alabandite, and glass in corundum Grain 1125C1. Sassite has an empirical formula (Ti³⁺_1.35Al_0.49Ti⁴⁺_0.08Mg_0.07)_Σ1.99(Ti⁴⁺_0.93Zr_0.06Si_0.01)_Σ1.00O₅ and the orthorhombic Cmcm pseudobrookite-type structure with the cell parameters: a = 3.80(1) Å, b = 9.85(1) Å, c = 9.99(1) Å, V = 374(1) Å³, Z = 4. Mizraite-(Ce) (Ce(Al₁₁Mg)O₁₉; IMA 2022-027) occurs as euhedral crystals, <1–14 μm in size, with Ce-silicate, Ti-sulfide, Ti,Al,Zr-oxide, ziroite, and thorianite in corundum Grain 198-8. Mizraite-(Ce) has an empirical formula (Ce_0.76Ca_0.10La_0.07Nd_0.01)_Σ0.94(Al_10.43Mg_0.84Ti³⁺_0.60Si_0.09Zr_0.04)_Σ12.00O₁₉ and the hexagonal P6₃/mmc magnetoplumbite-type structure with the cell parameters: a = 5.61(1) Å, c = 22.29(1) Å, V = 608(2) Å³, Z = 2. Yeite (TiSi; IMA 2022-079) occurs as irregular-subhedral crystals, 1.2–3.5 μm in size, along with wenjiite (Ti₅Si₃) and zhiqinite (TiSi₂) in Ti-Si alloy inclusions in corundum Grain 198c. Yeite has an empirical formula (Ti_0.995Mn_0.003V_0.001Cr_0.001)(Si_0.996P_0.004) and the orthorhombic Pnma FeB-type structure with the cell parameters: a = 6.55(1) Å, b = 3.64(1) Å, c = 4.99(1) Å, V = 119.0(4) Å³, Z = 4. The five minerals are high-temperature oxide or alloy phases, formed in melt pockets in corundum xenocrysts derived from the upper mantle beneath Mt. Carmel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials)

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Review

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20 pages, 3021 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in the Applications of Clinoptilolite-Rich Tuffs

by Jelena Pavlović, Jasna Hrenović, Dragan Povrenović and Nevenka Rajić

Materials 2024, 17(6), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061306 - 12 Mar 2024

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Abstract

Adsorptive, catalytic, and antibacterial properties of clinoptilolite-rich tuffs (ZT) are presented here. ZT transformed into Fe-containing ZT (Fe-ZT) removes various organic and inorganic anions from water. Fe-ZT, which contains selenium, is beneficial for growing Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms. The fungi convert inorganic Se from Fe-ZT into a more useful organically bonded form. ZT and Fe-ZT as supplements retain nitrogen and potassium in sandy, silty loam and silty clay soils. ZT shows an affinity toward toxic metal cations, which are essential for cleaning contaminated water. The adsorption of atenolol, acetylsalicylic, and salicylic acid onto M-ZT (M–Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, or Zn²⁺) from water solutions suggests that both the natures of M and pharmaceuticals have a significant impact on the adsorption mechanism and determine the adsorption capability of the ZT. ZT is an excellent carrier for ultrafine (2–5 nm) nano oxide particles, which have been shown to have catalytic activity in different chemical processes and photodegradation reactions of organic pollutants. ZT can also be transformed into SO₄-SnO₂-ZT, which is catalytically active as a solid acid. M-ZT is an effective carrier of valuable bacteria. Ag-ZT possesses beneficial bactericidal activity in disinfecting water and soil remediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials)

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18 pages, 1133 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recovery of Phosphorus and Metals from the Ash of Sewage Sludge, Municipal Solid Waste, or Wood Biomass: A Review and Proposals for Further Use

by Sara Tominc, Vilma Ducman, Wolfgang Wisniewski, Tero Luukkonen, Gunvor M. Kirkelund and Lisbeth M. Ottosen

Materials 2023, 16(21), 6948; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216948 - 29 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

This review provides an overview of methods to extract valuable resources from the ash fractions of sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, and wood biomass combustion. The resources addressed here include critical raw materials, such as phosphorus, base and precious metals, and rare earth elements for which it is increasingly important to tap into secondary sources in addition to the mining of primary raw materials. The extraction technologies prioritized in this review are based on recycled acids or excess renewable energy to achieve an optimum environmental profile for the extracted resources and provide benefits in the form of local industrial symbioses. The extraction methods cover all scarce and valuable chemical elements contained in the ashes above certain concentration limits. Another important part of this review is defining potential applications for the mineral residues remaining after extraction. Therefore, the aim of this review is to combine the knowledge of resource extraction technology from ashes with possible applications of mineral residues in construction and related sectors to fully close material cycle loops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials)

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