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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Dawsonite and Nahcolite survey. Volume 1. Reserves, technology, economics, and market assessment

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6117608
A survey report is presented for dawsonite and nahcolite, based on a bibliography and supplementary information obtained from researchers and mineral experts in the US. This report discusses resources, technology, economics, and market assessment from 1978 to 2000. It is estimated that in the Piceance Creek Basin of northwestern Colorado, there are approximately 27 billion tons of dawsonite and 30 billion tons of nahcolite, codeposited with portions of a vast oil shale deposit. All areas where the saline minerals and oil shale have been codeposited are controlled by the Federal government, with three exceptions. It is currently believed that all other oil shale properties lack recoverable quantities of dawsonite and/or nahcolite. Dawsonite and its derivatives can be used in the alumina, aluminum, catalyst, plastics, and water-treatment industries. Only the alumina and aluminium are large enough to absorb potential production by 2000. Nahcolite and its derivatives can be used in the flue gas scrubbing, glass, soda ash, and potentially dawsonite-recovery industries. Only flue gas scrubbing is likely to be a sufficiently large outlet to absorb potential nahcolite production by 2000.
Research Organization:
Colorado School of Mines, Golden (USA). Research Inst.
OSTI ID:
6117608
Report Number(s):
IDO-1683-1(Vol.1)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English