Trace Element Study of Quartz from Nasafjell

Abstract

This thesis is written i cooperation with Elkem as a part of the High-Temp Quartz project, which is a joint effort between Elkem, Sintef and NTNU, with a goal to achieve a better understanding of quartz behaviour during furnace operation. The thesis studies trace elements in a high purity quartz occurrence from Nasafjell. Trace elements are studied using cathodoluminescence and laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cathodoluminescence revealed that the Nasa quartz is made up of a complex puzzle of several different generations of quartz. The Nasa quartz consists of a primary quartz that have been significantly altered by the introduction of new hydrothermal quartz generations. Chemical analysis shows that the Nasa quartz are comparable in purity to most high purity quartz occurrences found in Norway.