Bolivia is a country with important non-metallic mineral resources; distributed in the whole territory. Old data from the Geologic Bolivian Service mentions that in those regions important deposits of clays, kaolin, feldspar, quartz, dolomites, limestone, magnesite and gypsum etc. can be found. But, with few exceptions, their scientific knowledge and real potentials for basic or industrial applications are poorly know. Then, this program considers very important to continue the geological research of those non-metallic mineral deposits which can be considered of interest. The emphasis will be on clay-like materials, oriented towards the different application for ceramics, as well as materials suitable to zeolites synthesis; as they are deposits of clays, diatomite, feldspars and others.
The research has a synergetic relation with the formation of human resources at different levels. Research training and development of PhD students permit the synergistic work between UMSA and LTU. This is based on a sandwich Ph.D. training system, during periods (six month/year) where doctoral students work in a division of research in LTU (Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering Divisions), they acquired the capabilities and experience in an area specific of research. In the periods worked in Bolivia (six month/year), they coopering in the implementation of capacities for research in the UMSA.
The Program pretends in this first period of cooperation ASDI (2013 – 2017) form six Master and two Ph. D. in the various training programs of the UMSA 4th level. A master's level exist in UMSA four training programs related to the field of transformation of Non Metallic, and a Master of approval process, masters exist are working but have a high deficiency of teachers (national and international). Likewise, graduate students that form in the Masters of UMSA, develop their research within the research and development within the Non Metallic.
For consolidate the scientific work its necessary the participation of beneficiaries (producers associations, etc.). This implies the elaboration of pilot plant, (at bench scale) to be used as prototypes for the industrial application of some products, or for some optimized processes; as well as the capacitation of the potential beneficiaries, only after their socio-economic characterization was done.
To run technological and social development research projects, to a new stage of maturity, and the generation of new transformation processes that promote the implementation of productive community units and/or Production CentreS under the program "Development of Non Metallic Minerals for the Development of Poor Areas in the Bolivian Altiplano.
Specific objective 1: To develop skills and capacities for non-metallic mineral processing into value-added products through specialized human resources training (PhD students continuation, master students initialization and one under-graduate thesis in geology).
Specific objective 2: To perform geological sketches of geological features of two identified non-metallic deposits, to perform methodological sampling and chemical-mineralogical characterization of the sampled raw materials
Specific objective 3: To continue the study of a feasibility process of production at bench scale of materials of industrial and / or environmental interest from non-metallic minerals
Specific objective 4: To implement the useful equipment and technical knowledge in the Comprehensive Training Centre for processing non-metallic resources into value-added products.
Specific objective 5: Finalization of the two PhD students for the 2008 – 2013 period at UMSA- LTU.