Geochemical characterization of the Miocene evaporites in the Gulf of Suez region, Egypt.

Document Type : Original articles

Authors

1 Geology, department, faculty of Science, Damietta University

2 Geology department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University

3 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt

Abstract

Evaporite-dominant strata had been deposited as a result of the Red Sea's tectonic isolation. The gypsum-anhydrite deposits exposed at Ras-Malaab and Marwet El-Khoshera areas, which represent the best developed outcrops of the Miocene evaporates in the Gulf of Suez (GS) region. To examine the quality of gypsum deposits of Ras-Malaab area and its implications to industrial application, different analytical techniques used such as; X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, microprobe analysis, trace elements analysis and ignition loss analysis. The X-ray diffraction and fluorescence peaks reveals that the samples are gypsum, anhydrite and bassanite, the microprobe analysis make sure that the studied samples are pure gypsum of limited composition of CaO of around 40.99% and SO3 with an average of 58.93% with very low quantities of Cu, Zr, Rb and Y near zero. The results indicate that the gypsum deposits of the Ras- Malaab of the Miocene age evaluated as a very pure of high quality which is suitable for cement, plaster of Paris, solid wallboard, ceramic and ammonium sulphate fertilizers and other different industrial purposes.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics