Mineralogical and Geochemical Study of Sediments of Lower Mesopotamia, Southern Iraq

Abstract

This study is based on forty eight samples that were collected from selected sites in Lower Mesopotamia. Sampling depth varies between 1 and 9 m in the South Hammar Marsh, Southern. Grain size distribution indicates that the deposits are mainly composed of silt with a small amount of clay and sand, silt texture is dominate in the sediments, followed by sandy silt, mud, and muddy sand. The dominate nonclay minerals are calcite, quartz, dolomite, feldspar and gypsum, while the clay minerals are composed of; kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, chlorite, Palygorskite, mixed layers montmorillonite - chlorite and palygorskite - illite. Chemical analysis showed that all samples have high concentration in SiO₂ and CaO in comparison with Al₂O₃, Fe2O₃, MgO, SO₃, K₂O and Na₂O. These results are generally related to the clay minerals composition. The depositional environment of these minerals may be characterized by an arid to semi-arid climate in the source area.