MRI-SpekDroTon - Charakterisierung ausgewählter Tonvorkommen Österreichs hinsichtlich Variabilität von rohstoffgeologischen Eigenschaften sowie lateraler und vertikaler Verbreitung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Multispektralanalyse und Drohnen-gestützten geophysikalischen Messsystemen und Auswertetools Punktspektrometer und UNFC Klassifizierung
In this joint project GeoSphere Austria, Wienerberger AG and the Institute of Geology at the University of Vienna explore clay deposits of economic interest. The focus is on practical tests of less established methods such as point spectrometry and drone-based geophysical measurement systems for characterising clay deposits, as well as the creation of a basis for UNFC classification.
Austrian clay deposits are present in a broad spectrum of different stratigraphic units and formation environments. Depending on whether marine, brackish, limnic, fluviatile or aeolian sediments are present, a wide variety of sedimentary structures, intercalations with coarse-grained material and variations in thickness can occur. Furthermore, factors such as the shape of the palaeorelief, tectonic conditions and the intensity of weathering processes play an important role in the quality of clay deposits.
The most important areas of use for clay raw materials are in the brick production, the ceramics industry and the refractory industry; additionally, there are various special areas of application. Depending on the various uses there are different requirements for the raw material. The typical properties of clay raw materials and thus their raw material quality are closely related to their mineral content and their grain size composition. In addition, the expected raw material quantities are crucially for the actual usability of the deposits. These are dependent on the internal structure, the lateral extent and the thickness of the deposits.
The aim of the project is the detailed investigation of selected clay deposits in Austria with regard to their raw material geological properties and their areal and depth distribution. In addition to standard recording techniques and analytical methods, a special focus will be on exploring the possibilities of methods that are currently being established at GeoSphere Austria, such as point spectrometry and drone-based geophysical measurement methods. Traditional mineral phase analysis by X-ray diffraction, soil geophysical electromagnetics measurements, geochemical analyses and grain size investigations will be used for the validation of the results of the newly tested methods. The data from point spectrometry will be used to create a spectral reference catalogue of typical Austrian clay raw materials.
Furthermore, criteria for the applicability of the UNFC scheme to clay deposits are to be developed. This scheme offers the possibility of evaluating raw material deposits in a standardised manner worldwide, whereby the extraction possibilities from a socio-ecological point of view, the economic viability of extraction and the level of geological knowledge are assessed and classified in a standardised manner. The calculated quantities are then given for each class.