ANALYSIS OF QUARTZ MINERAL IN QUARTZ BEDS OF KARAGUM USING ORGANIC SOLVENTS

Organic solvents with different densities are used to accurately determine the mineral content of the sand deposits of Karakum. When organic solvents of different densities are used, heavy minerals in sand samples are separated from the bottom and light minerals from the top [1]. Finally, the mineral composition of the separated heavy and light fractions is analyzed separately. It is difficult to determine the complete mineral composition without dividing it into heavy and light fractions, since many minerals are stored in the composition of the sand [2]. In this study, sand deposits (Baherden, Anau, Mane) were compared before and after dissolving in organic solvents in terms of the content of silicon element and the purity of quartz. To compare the purity of the sand samples before applying the organic solvent, each sample was first examined in an XRD diffraction analyzer and the data obtained were compared with the X-ray diffraction data of a standard pure quartz mineral. According to this XRD, it can be seen that the peaks detected by the standard quartz (SiO₂) and samples from Mane and Baherden deposits are similar. Thus, it was concluded that the purity level of quartz (SiO₂) stored in Mane and Baherden sand deposits is the same.