Physicochemical and mineralogical characterization of Sultan Uwais feldspar for sustainable glass manufacturing in earth and environmental sciences

Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Biruni, 220100 Urgench city, Uzbekistan

^* Corresponding author: dinara.b@urdu.uz

Abstract

This study presents a detailed physicochemical investigation of feldspar raw materials from the Sultan Uwais deposit, which are widely applied in glass and ceramic production. Samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM images revealed predominantly angular, medium-sized grains typical of igneous rocks, with feldspar composition determined as (in wt.%): Si – 31.98, K – 8.32, Al – 8.89, Na – 2.16. Additional X-ray phase and infrared spectroscopic analyses confirmed the mineralogical composition comprising quartz (7–10%), microcline (60–65%), albite (21–25%), and calcite (2–3%). These results demonstrate the suitability of the Sultan Uwais feldspar for high-quality glass production. The findings also provide a basis for optimizing resource utilization in the glass industry, contributing to efficient and sustainable raw material management.