The Mineralogical Composition of Thrace Zeolitic Rocks and Their Potential Use as Feed Additives and Nutrition Supplements

Abstract

Thirty two (32) locations of zeolitic rocks from Thrace (29 from Evros prefecture and 3 from Rhodope prefecture) were investigated for their mineralogical composition by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) method. According to EU Regulation No 651/2013, clinoptilolite of sedimentary origin (zeolitic tuffs) with ≥80 wt% clinoptilolite, ≤20 wt% clay minerals, free of fibres and quartz, can be used as feed additive for all animal species. The zeolitic rocks of Thrace on average contain, 23-89 wt% HEUtype zeolite (clinoptilolite-heulandite), 8-45 wt% mordenite (ten locations), 24 wt% analcime (one location), 1-11 wt% mica, 1 11 wt% clay minerals, 3-37 wt% quartz, 2-29 wt% cristobalite, 3-34 wt% feldspars and 0-22 wt% amorphous materials. Only one location contains 89 wt% HEU-type zeolite (clinoptilolite-heulandite), 2 wt% clay minerals, is free of fibres, but unfortunately it contains 3 wt% quartz and 2 wt% cristobalite. Considering the mineralogical composition, the zeolitic rocks of Thrace do not meet the requirements of the EU Regulation No 651/2013, and thus cannot be used as feed additives for all animal species and consequently as nutrition supplements, since the zeolitic rocks in all locations, contain on average 3-37 wt% quartz, 2-29 wt% cristobalite, 8-45 wt% mordenite (fibrous zeolite) in 10 locations, 24-65 wt% zeolites (HEU-type ± mordenite ± analcime) in 28 locations, 74 wt% HEUtype zeolite in 2 locations and 77 wt% HEU-type zeolite in 1 location.