Volcanic Zeolites from the Yagodninskoe Deposit, Kamchatka

This work is concerned with classification and study of the composition and properties of hydrothermal zeolites from the Yagodninskoe deposit, (Kamchatka) which were formed in volcanic rocks. The study involved X-ray phase analysis and X-ray fluorescence, optical and scanning electron microscopy. We determined specific syrface AREA the pore size distribution, as well as cation exchange capacity in zeolites. The study resulted in the identification of four main rock types at the deposit: the original unaltered perlites, zeolites rock, zeolitized tuffs, as well as poorly zeolitized tuff breccias. The Content of zeolite group minerals reaches 70%. The minerals mostly include clinoptilolite and, to a lesser degree, mordenite, stilbite, and heulandite. The zeolites are of the alkaline type, with the cation exchange capacity equal to 205.9 mg-equi/100 g. It has been found that these zeolites were mostly formed from perlites and tuff breccias. It is pointed out that the Yagodninskoe zeolites are high quality minerals, and make a promising object of further exploration.