Characterization and assessment of the dolomite powder for application as fillers in the marble-type ore

The marble-type dolomite from the Jasung Mine, which was farmed by duplicated affects of contact metamorphism and subsequent hydrothermal alteration, corresponds to a high-purity dolomite ranging up to above 98wt.% in dolomite contents. The dolomite contain minor impurities such as quartz, muscovite, and pyrite. It is characteristic that the dolomite is fairy Fe-rich corresponding to 0.4 wt.% due to the presence of pyrite of possible hydrothermal origin. The dolomite is nearly white-colored and constituting with subhedral crystals ranging in size, forming equigranular texture. Compared to the typical high-Ca limestone from the Pungchon Formation, the powder characteristics of dolomite is rather superior in milling efficiency, yields of fine particles, and size distribution. In addition, except for iron contents, the dolomite powder is no less superior than the limestone in quality and characteristics as fillers with respects to not only whiteness, oil absorption, and specific surface area but also shape characters such as elongation ratio, aspect ratio, and sphericity. This good characteristics of dolomite powder seem to be originated basically from comparatively higher grade and crystallinity of dolomite. Higher iron contents and the presence of sulfides prevents the dolomite from application for uses by thermal treatment, except for metallic manufacture. However, if proper ore separation procedure is available, the dolomite can be sufficiently utilized as substitutes for high-Ca limestone in most fields of filler industries.