Filitos Cerâmicos de Martinópole (Ce) - Potencialidade e Aplicações Tecnológicas

Abstract

Preliminary assays with a weathered quartz-phyllite (saprolite), correlated to Santa Terezinha formation of Neoproterozoic age, in Martinópole region, Northwest Ceará, revealed some ceramic characteristics compatible with those of the Itapeva phyllite of the São Paulo State, used in the industry of white ceramics. The mesoscopic analysis of the Martinópole phyllite (white color, weathered and with low coherence), has shown the presence of quartz, sericite and clay minerals. Its chemical analysis revealed low amount of Fe2O3 (1.3 %) and high K2O (3,2%), Al2O3 (21.7 %) and SiO2 (> 61 %). Nevertheless chemical analysis of another samples had considerable contents of K2O, ranging from 4 and 6.5 %. The proof-bodies tested (a mixture of plastic clay and proportions of 6.25 % and 12.5 % of phyllite) were burned at 70o C, 900o C and 1100o C, showing tendency of more resistance to breakage, and low values of water absorption with inrease proportion of plastic clay. Although being preliminary, the data suggest possibilities to use the Martinópole phyllite as supplement of the raw material of barbotine of artifact for industries of white ceramics, refractory material or as second class white ceramics. The referred stratigraphic unit lies over an area superior than 315 km2 , turning itself another attractive to justify future researches for the purposes over cited