| SESSION: MiningWedPM3-R5 |
10th Intl. Symp. on Sustainable Mining Operations |
| Wed. 19 Nov. 2025 / Room: Orchid | |
| Session Chairs: Abdollah Esmaeili; Francisco Souza Assis; Student Monitors: TBA | |
Bentonite is an industrial clay widely used in various sectors, such as well drilling, ceramics, foundry, and environmental barriers, due to its unique physicochemical properties. This study aims to characterize the bentonites from the Campo Novo Mine, located in the municipality of Sossego-PB, by analyzing their formation processes, mineralogical properties, and industrial applications. The bentonites in this region originate from the weathering and hydrothermal alteration of basalts, leading to the formation of clay minerals from the smectite group, such as montmorillonite. To analyze these clays, technical visits were carried out for sample collection, followedby laboratory tests, including drying in an oven, comminution, dry and wet sieving, magnetic separation, and swelling tests. The results indicated that the cream-colored bentonite 2 had the highest swelling capacity, while the white bentonite showed lower expansion, possibly due to its high calcium content. Mineralogical analysis revealed variations in the composition of the samples, confirming the influence of geological processes on their formation. Magnetic separation demonstrated differences in the mineralogical composition among the samples, suggesting variations in bentonite quality. From an economic perspective, the exploitation of bentonites in Sossego represents a promising opportunity for the local industry, provided it is carried out sustainably. Thus, this study contributes to the geological and technological knowledge of Paraíba's bentonites, providing informationfor optimizing their industrial use and for future research on the mineralogical variability of the region.