nitrate and iodate minerals
- nitrate and iodate minerals
-
small group of naturally occurring inorganic compounds that are practically confined to the Atacama Desert of northern Chile; the principal locality is Antofagasta. These minerals occur under the loose soil as beds of grayish caliche (
calcrete) (a hard cemented mixture of nitrates, sulfates, halides, and
sand) 2–3 m (7–10 feet) thick. The much rarer iodate minerals occur sporadically, intermixed with the nitrates, and are distinguished from the former by their yellow colour. The caliche has accumulated as a result of drainage. Because most of these compounds are soluble and unstable, they are practically confined to arid regions and soils, which possess a paucity of microorganisms.
Before World War I, Chile possessed a near monopoly on nitrates, with as many as 100 plants in operation. The introduction of practical methods for the fixation of nitrogen early in the 20th century resulted in a decline of the marketing of natural nitrates.
The nitrate and iodate minerals are structurally related to the carbonate minerals. The most important nitrates are soda nitre, nitre (
saltpetre), darapskite, and humberstonite. Among the iodates are lautarite and dietzeite.
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Universalium.
2010.
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