Thermal characterization of bauxite samples

Thermal behavior of three characteristic samples from the lower bauxite horizon from locality of Atalandi, Locrida area (Greece) was investigated in the temperature range 20-1250 degrees C by means of emanation thermal analysis (ETA) as well as simultaneous DTA and TG/DTG. The major elements of the samples and the chemical composition of the samples were determined. Moreover, X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the mineralogical composition. It was found that the samples are mainly composed of diaspore, boehmite, gibbsite, kaolinite, hematite, goethite, anatase, chamosite, chloritoid and REE minerals. Differences in chemical and mineralogical composition were observed.