Clay Minerals Distribution of Supratidal Region, Southern of Iraq

19-02-2014

B. Albadran* and W. F. Hassen**

*Geology department, University of Basrah, Iraq.

**Marine Science Centre, University of basrah, Iraq.

 ABSTRACT

Two boreholes were chosen in the southern part of Mesopotamian flood plain. Grain —size distribution, x-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis were determined on the clay fraction. The results showed that the dominant clay mineral is kaolinite followed by palygorskite, illite, montmorillonite and illite- montmorillonite mixed layers. It is suggested that the origin of palygorskite is a neoformation in sabkha region, in the presence of high evaporation, hypersaline and notable quantity of carbonates.

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