Diopside rocks ? Raw materials for many purposes

Slyudyansk diopside deposits (Irkutsk region) were examined and classified by concentration of impurities into 7 groups. The chemical and mineral composition of each group is given. Group 1 rocks contain 90-98% diopside with calcite, quartz and tremolite; Group 2, calcite, quartz and diopside with a significant variation in composition; Groups 3, 4 and 5, most complex types (apatite); groups 6 and 7, high concentrations of quartz and calcite. An assessment was made of their suitability as raw materials for silicate technology. 4 refs.