№ 1,
2012
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Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of soils in East Rosetta, Egypt
1 – Cairo Univ., Fac.of Agric., Soil Sciences Dept., Giza, Egypt
2 – Nuclear Materials Authority, Katameya, Cairo, Egypt
Summary
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Seventeen soil samples were collected from East Rosetta area. Based on particle size distribution, the studied samples are classified as sandy, loamy sand, sandy loam, clay loam and sandy clay loam. The studied samples were mineralogically and geochemically studied to identify their mineral compositions and chemical characteristics. In addition, uranium and thorium were determined to evaluate their radioactive behaviour.
Mineralogically, the heavy mineral fractions of the studied samples contain monazite, zircon, rutile, magnetite, ilmenite, garnet and green silicates (pyroxenes and amphiboles). Geochemically, based on CaO-Na2O-K2O and (Fe2O3 + MgO), Na2O and K2O ternary relationships, most of the studied samples are classified as greywacke with small contribution from arkose composition. Comparing the major oxides and trace elements distribution, the studied sandy and loamy sand samples exhibit high SiO2 and low MgO compared with sandy loam samples which exhibit high K2O and Na2O but depleted in CaO. Sandy clay loam and clay loam samples exhibit high content of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 but depleted in K2O and P2O5 compared to sandy facies.