Mineral Resources for the Ceramic Industry: Survey of Feldspathic Raw Materials in Italy

Feldspars are essential components in the ceramic industry, and the increasing demand for high-grade fluxes has recently elevated their status as critical raw materials for the European Union. This survey aims to evaluate, for the first time, Italy’s mining potential for the production of ceramic fluxes through a methodological approach that considers lithology, technological value, degree of alteration and potential for mining exploitation. The most promising resources are identified in the Alps, the Apennines, Sardinia and the Calabro–Peloritan Arc, based on the chemical composition of rocks without any beneficiation. Key parameters include the equivalent feldspar content and the sum of Fe2O3 + TiO2. Factors that may influence the feasibility of exploitation are critically discussed for granitoids and syenites, acidic volcanics, aplites and pegmatites, albitites, felsic metamorphics, sili-ca-saturated and silica-undersaturated volcanics, arkosic sandstones and rocks that have undergone epithermal alteration. All resources are compared with deposits currently under extraction and assessed against benchmarks or well-recognized raw materials used as market proxies. This review lays the groundwork for operational mining exploration by clearly defining Italy’s potential for feldspathic fluxes. The exploratory assessment approach to feldspathic resources can also be applied in other countries.