Allophane Geological Potential in the Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province

Abstract

This work was developed within the Project of Geological Research and Availability of Occurrences of Mineral Resources in the Ecuadorian Territory, executed by the Institute of Geological and Energy Research IIGE. This research estimates the geological potential of the allophane in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Monterrey sector, and applies a semi-prospective prospecting methodology, which includes topography, edaphological information gathering, soil sampling, construction of pits, interpretation of chemical laboratory results and preliminary. The study area located in the Monterrey sector, has an approximate surface of 200 km². Previous research reports that the San Tadeo formation predominates in the area, it contains pyroclastic material, volcanic breccia and mud flows of andesitic composition, coming from nearby emission centers (BGR). Allophane is a poorly crystalline hydrated aluminosilicate, which formed from volcanic ash and is usually one of the first products of its alteration, considered of industrial interest for its large specific surface. In the study area based on the allophane content, a layer of interest with a maximum thickness of 9m defined. Our study identifies allophane anomalies based on the analysis of 60 soil samples by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence. The results were quantified using the polygon method. The estimated geological potential of the allophane in the Monterrey Sector is 605Mm³ a 49% Allophone; which has been defined based on the calculation of the weighted average and percentage average.