Natural gamma-ray spectroscopy (NGS) as a proxy for the distribution of clay minerals and bitumen in the Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada

Sammanfattning

Detailed examination of the mineralogy of the Cretaceous McMurray Formation within a facies framework is used to assess the use of natural gamma-ray spectroscopy (NGS) and a pulsed neutron generator (PNG) tool in delineating variation in clay mineral and bitumen contents. Characterization of the mixed-layer (interstratified) clay phases in the McMurray Formation provides an improved understanding of clay interaction in bitumen processing and tailings settling behavior, important for mine planning and tailings remediation schemes. Mineral diversity in the McMurray Formation was determined on facies attributed samples using whole rock X-ray diffraction (XRD), cation exchange capacity (CEC) measurements, elemental analysis (XRF), clay size fraction (

Nyckelord

Oil sands; McMurray formation; Kaolinite; Vermiculite; Kaolinite-expandable mixed-layer mineral; Natural gamma-ray spectroscopy

Publicerad i

Fuel
2021, volym: 288, artikelnummer: 119513
Utgivare: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU författare

• Hillier, Stephen

  • Institutionen för mark och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Geokemi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119513

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/110411