Análisis mineralógico y químico de arenas ferrotitaníferas en la región costera de Pedernales, Provincia de Manabí

Abstract

Abstract: This study, entitled Mineralogical and chemical analysis of ferrotitaniferous sands from the coastal region of Pedernales, Manabí Province , characterises black sands that may contain iron- and titanium-bearing minerals, whose composition remains insufficiently documented within Ecuador s coastal geological context. The objective was to determine the mineralogical and chemical composition of the sands and identify the principal mineral phases present. A quantitative, descriptive and analytical approach was used. Field samples were prepared in the laboratory and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). XRD reported ilmenite (52.3%), magnesioferrite (34.0%) and magnetite (13.7%), whereas XRF indicated high contents of SiO₂ (44.20%) and CaO (16.61%). The results indicate preliminary ferrotitaniferous characteristics; however, the mineralogical, chemical and petrographic datasets must be reconciled before the material s potential use can be assessed.