Studio preliminare del deposito a bentonite - zeoliti dell'area di Monte Ossoni (Castelsardo, Sardegna settentrionale)

A bentonite-zeolite deposit, of possible economic interest, occurs in the Oligocene-Miocene calk-alkaline volcanic formation outcropping in the Eastern area of Castelsardo (Northern Sardinia, Italy). The mineralization outcrops in the Southern area of Monte Ossoni in a continuous level ranging from 1 to about 10m in thickness. Geological prospection and mineralogical-chemical analyses of the collected samples evidence the qualitative characteristics of the materials and the economic importance of the deposit. Plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, montmorillonite and zeolites, with subordinate biotite, calcite and illite, are the main minerals. The zeolites attain to the Heulandite-Clinoptilolite Group and Mordenite Group. The measured reserves of these deposit were assessed in 10 Million of T.