IDENTIFICATION OF ZEOLITE GROUP OF MINERALS BY REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY

The use of zeolites to improve the quality of the soil for agriculture gains space around the world. The high cation exchange capacity of zeolites favors the retention of nutrients in the soil and the high capacity of these minerals to retain water in their crystal lattices makes them excellent soil conditioner. The absence of zeolite deposits in exploration in Brazil points to the basalts of the Serra Geral Formation of the Parana Basin as a target with great potential for the exploration of natural zeolites. Researches done by CPRM (Geological Survey of Brazil) highlight the significant presence of zeolites at the contact between the lower flows of ...