CHEMICO-MINERALOGICAL AND PETROGRAPHICAL STUDY OF NATURAL ZEOLITES AND APOPHYLLITE IN BASALTS FROM DECCAN TRAP, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

Abstract

Natural Zeolites filling amygdales and veins in stone quarries of basaltic rocks near Village Savada, Jalgaon districts, Maharashtra on the Deccan Trap, India have been studied by using Microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and Scanning Electron Microscope (Fe-SEM). As of foregoing studies, the varieties of Zeolites viz. Stilbite and Mordenite and Apophyllite occur in the study area and their applications which are widely useful for various purposes are discussed in this paper. The field study and the overview are much more beneficial for society and planners where Zeolites can be used. The element composition data shows that descending trends were observed as O followed by C, Te, Ca, Si, Br, Na and K in Stilbite. Whereas in Apophyllite O is followed by Ca, Te, C, Si, K, Na and Br. On the other hand in mineral Mordenite trend observed as O followed by Si, Ca, Br, C, Na, K and Te. Mordenite shows orthorhombic crystals, Apophyllite shows tetragonal crystals and Stilbite exhibits monoclinic crystals.