REPORT ON EXPLORITIVE INVESTIGATION OF FELDSPAR BEARING SAND IN AL-NAJAF PLATEY AL-NAJAF GOVERNORATE

Abstract

This study was carried out in an area located about 38 km south west of Al- Najaf city to study the feldspar bearing sand in Al- Najaf plateau within Al -Najaf Governorate, and estimate a primary reserve.

The work included drilling of 18 boreholes in a net of 400 m X 400 m, distributed in area of about 1.6 km2. The depth of the boreholes is about 15 m, and the total drilling meters is 270 m. One hundred and thirty eight samples submitted to the geological laboratories for grain size analysis to determine the ratios of the following sizes: <4mm, (- 4 + 2) mm, (- 2 + 1) mm (-1+0.71) mm, (- 0.71+0.5) mm, (-0.5+0.25) mm, (- 0.25+0.125) mm (- 0.125+0.063) mm, and the base, the results showed that more than 50% of the sand sizes is of coarse grain which is more than 0.71 mm and about 30% of medium grain (-0.71+0.25) mm is fine and very fine comprise about 15%. Two hundred and seventeen samples were collected from the boreholes and submitted to chemical analysis in GEOSURV central laboratories and the results showed the averages percentages of the following oxides and component: SiO2 Fe2O3 Al2O3 CaO MgO SO3 L.O.I Na2O K2O Cl- 89.17 0.72 1.85 2.02 0.50 0.36 2.17 0.84 2.20 0.02 From the average percentages of chemical component, it can be estimate the mineral composition of the sand by using general equations to extract the ratios of the mineral constituent. The result of these calculations showed the following average percentage of the following minerals Feldspar Quartz Dolomite Gypsum Limestone 20.16 71.82 1.56 0.76 2.10 The results reflect present of about 20% of feldspar which is consider to be important quantity and more than that recorded in the previous study of feldspar quarry.

The reserve of bulk sands in the investigated area is 12656214.698m3 the reserve estimated within category C1.