GEOLOGICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF SOME PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS, NORTHEASTERN SINAI; EGYPT.
ABRAM FARID BISHAY;
Abstract
The phosphate deposits of the Sudr Formation outcrop in northern and southern Sinai. The present study is dealing with the exposed phosphates at the northeastern part of Sinai at three main areas (Taba, Aref EI-Naga and Wadi El-Sabha areas). The age of the phosphate deposits was assigned to belong to the Campanian-Maastrichtian.
The Sudr Formation is divided into three main members; the lower chalk member, the middle limestone, chert and phosphate member and the upper chalk member. The Sudr Formation, in addition to the underl ying upper beds from the Matulla Formation, represents the main target of the present study. The phosphate beds are confined to the middle member of the Sudr Formation. They are highly affected by tectonics (faulting and folding), especially • t , Taba and Aref El-naga areas. The lower chalk member contains in some places a secondary uranium mineral (carnotite).
The upper chalk member is of no economic interest. It contains neither phosphate beds nor uranium anomalies. The upper beds of the Matulla Formation are phosphatic, which record U and REE anomalies owing to their phosphatic and argillaceous nature.
A multidisciplinary approach of petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical studies have been applied to examine the phosphate-bearing sediments and the associated carbonate rocks.
The petrographical examination reveal ed that apatite exhibits various textural forms, which are composed mainl y of pellets, teeth, fish scales, bones, fossi ls, shell fragments and secondary apatite veins. Normall y, the apatite is black to dark brown in color under the polarized microscope, while the pellets appears under the binocular microscope in white color and occasionally show ornamentations from red, brown and even black colors.
The variation in color is •'=' _ll i l.,\ f \'•,,, iron oxides and organic matter
inclusions. The secondary apatite is usually snow-white to pale brown in color.
The Sudr Formation is divided into three main members; the lower chalk member, the middle limestone, chert and phosphate member and the upper chalk member. The Sudr Formation, in addition to the underl ying upper beds from the Matulla Formation, represents the main target of the present study. The phosphate beds are confined to the middle member of the Sudr Formation. They are highly affected by tectonics (faulting and folding), especially • t , Taba and Aref El-naga areas. The lower chalk member contains in some places a secondary uranium mineral (carnotite).
The upper chalk member is of no economic interest. It contains neither phosphate beds nor uranium anomalies. The upper beds of the Matulla Formation are phosphatic, which record U and REE anomalies owing to their phosphatic and argillaceous nature.
A multidisciplinary approach of petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical studies have been applied to examine the phosphate-bearing sediments and the associated carbonate rocks.
The petrographical examination reveal ed that apatite exhibits various textural forms, which are composed mainl y of pellets, teeth, fish scales, bones, fossi ls, shell fragments and secondary apatite veins. Normall y, the apatite is black to dark brown in color under the polarized microscope, while the pellets appears under the binocular microscope in white color and occasionally show ornamentations from red, brown and even black colors.
The variation in color is •'=' _ll i l.,\ f \'•,,, iron oxides and organic matter
inclusions. The secondary apatite is usually snow-white to pale brown in color.
Other data
| Title | GEOLOGICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF SOME PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS, NORTHEASTERN SINAI; EGYPT. | Other Titles | دراسات جيولوجية ومعدنية وجيوكيميائية لبعض رواسب الفوسفات بشمال شرق سيناء ، حمهورية مصر العربية | Authors | ABRAM FARID BISHAY | Issue Date | 2000 |
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