Transactions of the INDIAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Vol. 27 1968
Zircon Sand from Kerala Beach, Its Mineralogy,
Metamictization and Suitability as a Raw
Material for Glaze Opacification
B. N. BHATTACHARYYA, B. BHUSHAN AND SUDHIR SEN
Pages : 113-122
DOI : 10.1080/0371750X.1968.10855640
Abstract
Mineralogical studies of zircon sand from Kerala beach revealed that about 97%
of the grains were unaltered, but they appeared to have a lower degree of crystallinity.
About 2% of the grains were found to be partly metamicted. Huttonite (ThSi04)
was found as one of the impurities responsible for the radio activity of the sample.
Calcination improved the crystallinity and colour of zircon grains, making them
more suitable for use as opacifiers in porcelain glazes. The behaviour of raw and calcined
zircon in various types of glazes have been explained.
