MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF DIBDIBBA Sandstone Formation BEARING FELDSPAR IN ZUBAIR AND SAFWAN AREA’ S , SOUTHERN IRAQ

Abstract

Twenty nine sand samples bearing feldspar from Dibdibba sands formation, southern Iraq were studied mineralogically and geochemically in two different Locations: Safwan and Zubair areas, to evaluated their content of feldspar and Quartz .The grain size analyses showed that dibdiba sand deposits is mainly composed of gravel, sand, sandy gravel and gravelly sand.Chemical analysis indicated that safwan samples have high average content of Al2O3, K2O, Na2O and CaO and less average of SiO2 in comparison with their content in Zubair area.X.R.D. analysis shows that mean content of Quartz is 84.3% and 75% in Safwan and Zubair samples respectively, where as the mean of feldspar mineral is 24% and 14%.In general Safwan sand deposits considered to could be use as raw materials for up grading of feldspar by using a flotation method.