Glass sand potentiality of bar sediments from Tista and Dharla rivers, Bangladesh

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the glass sand potentiality of the bar
sediments of Tista and Dharla rivers from different locations of Nilfamari,
Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, Bangladesh. Accordingly, fourteen samples
were selected for grain size distributions with separation of magnetic minerals.
Magnetic mineral content ranges from about trace amount to 0.06 wt%. Light
minerals separated by tetrabromoethane technique ranging from about 88 to 98 wt%. Moreover, glass sand as final products by flotation process evaluation
ranges from 58 to 80 wt%, which indicate good quantity of glass sand.
Geochemical data also suggest that glass sands are suitable for commercial grade glass owing to its SiO2 content (80.794.1 wt%). In particular, the Tista Barrage site shows high SiO2 (94.1 wt%) with reasonably low Al2O3, TiO2, and
MgO+CaO percentages, which suggest an excellent glass grade quality.
Unfortunately, some impurities (e.g., Fe2O3, Zr) are comparatively higher than
standards, which poses difficulties making high grade glass. However, if it is
possible to remove and/or decrease the major impurities, it may be used to
manufacture high grade glass (colourless glass).