The Characterization and Classification Studies of Bent-onite Mines in IRAN for Application in Drilling and Foundry by AHP Technique

Bentonite is a clay groups which is a very important in todays industry, according to its chemical and physical properties. The most of the consumption of Bentonite in IRAN are in the fields of drilling and foundry. According to the drilling and foundry standards of IRAN, about 25 Bentonite mines have been identified and classified and lastly decided by AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) technique. More than 300 tests about the parameters like wetness, swelling, compressive strength, dry strength, pH, methylen blue, gelling index, yield, viscosity, plastic viscosity, filter loss and sieve analysis have been investigated. The Tashtabkhor mine with highest score (19.85) and the Chahkeshmir mine with lowest score (4.523) in drilling and the Boteh gaz mine with highest score (19.37) and the Gol khandan mine with lowest score (5.094)in foundry, were the mines selected amount 25 mines