Kaolin deposits of Leucogia, Rhodope, Greece: Processes of Kaolinization
(EN)
PAPOULIS, D.
TSOLIS - KATAGAS, P.
Kaolin deposits of residual origin associated with metamorphic rocks (leucocratic gneisses and schistgneisses) occur in Leucogia area, NE Greece. The chemical, mineralogical and textural characteristics of kaolin deposits were investigated by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and chemical analyses. Attempts have been made to correlate the primary and secondary assemblages and to establish the factors controlling the step-wise character of the transition from the fresh gneisses to kaolinized rocks. The kaolinization process seems to follow two alteration pathways: (i) Sodic plagioclases ? Halloysite ? Kaolinite. (ii) K-Feldspars ? Kaolinite.
(EN)
