DEFECT CAPACITY OF MINERAL STRUCTURES

Abstract

For a comparative evaluation of the defect capacities of minerals of various structural types, we used microindentation with a Mikroharterprufer diamond indenter accessory of the MeF general-purpose microscope. The increase in defect capacity, ΔEd, was calculated from the area of the zones of brittle failure under the indenter at loads of 1, 10 and 100 g. The results indicate that among the minerals that were studied, calcite and quartz had the greatest defect capacity and periclase the smallest. Nepheline has a smaller defect capacity than cancrinite developing from it in the course of industrial processing. Additional study methods and results are discussed.