Análisis mineralógico y multielemental de la ceniza volcánica, producto de la erupción del Cotopaxi en 2015, por difracción de rayos X (XRD) y espectrometría de masas con plasma acoplado inductivamente (ICP-MS) y sus posibles aplicaciones e impactos

Abstract

This study had as main goal the mineralogical and multielemental analysis of the volcanic ash product of the eruption of the Cotopaxi volcano in August of 2015; in order to determine possible applications and impacts. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique were used for the sample analysis. ICP-MS analysis showed important concentrations of aluminum, sulfur, iron, calcium, magnesium, titanium, alkali metals and alkaline-earth elements according of an andesitic composition. Through the analysis by XRD was determined that the major minerals present in the crystalline phase are plagioclases, orthoclases and silicon oxides (cristobalin); and iron oxide (magnetite, hematite and maghemite), gypsum, dolomite and ma- yenite were found among the minorities compounds. The bibliographic study of the different applications of the elements and minerals found in the ash allows recommending the use of this material as an aggregate in materials and cons- truction due to its mineralogical composition, and avoiding its use as a fertilizer without a previous pH soil determination as it could be potentially toxic.