Geological and mineral characteristics of zeolithic tuff “Toponica” deposits near Kosovska Kamenica

Abstract

Zeolites are a group of natural and artificial inorganic compounds, which have specific physicochemical properties appropriate for industrial application. These minerals make a specific group of alumosilicates within tectosilicates because of their origin, chemical compositions, structural characteristics and application. This paper presents the results of mineralogical and crystallographic examination of zeolite tuff samples from the Toponica deposit. The deposit of zeolite tuff ""Toponica"" is located in the extreme eastern part of Kosmet near Kosovska Kamenica. The immediate geological structure of the zeolite tuff deposit consists of the Lower Miocene (M) clayey sandstone, the horizon of the white zeolite tuff and the reclassified Miocene clays, clays and gravel. The basic mineral composition is the mineral clinoptilolite-Ca from the heylandite series.