Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrography of Al-Hisa Phosphate Rocks and Its Upgraded Ores

Abstract

Several samples from phosphate rock and upgraded ores collected from Al-Hisa mine central Jordan were investigated geochemically and mineralogical. Mineralogical study showed that the main mineral phases are Françoise, beside calcite, gypsum clay and silica. The petrography of francolite shows that it is presented mainly in the form of pellets, ooliths and bioclsts, the matrix formed mainly from calcite, micro-quartz and anhydrite. The upgrading process causes enrichment of Françoise, clay and gypsum to some extent, and depletion of calcite and quartz. Thus the TCP increased from 52% in the original phosphate rocks and reaches 64% in the upgraded ores. The dramatic drop of chlorine in upgrading ores reflects its solubility if the effluent water, that might cause increase of Cl in surface water bodies.

Keywords: Phosphate, Upper Cretaceous, Upgraded ores, Francolite, TCP, Jordan