Economic potentials of industrial rocks and minerals in the Azraq basin, NE Jordan
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REVIEW PAPER
Economic potentials of industrial rocks and minerals in the Azraq basin, NE Jordan Hani N. Khoury 1 Received: 9 June 2017 / Accepted: 30 January 2018 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2018
Abstract The Azraq basin (the Badia region in NE-Jordan) is rich in its industrial rocks and minerals. Most of the commodities are concentrated in one area, which is the Azraq depression (El-Qa’). The climatic changes (wet and dry) of Azraq closed lake contributed in the formation of industrial rocks and minerals in the El-Qa’. Basalt, pyroclastics, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, palgorskite, porcelanite, saline brines, chalk, limestone, and gypsum are the potential industrial commodities. The basaltic rocks are of high alkalis content and good homogeneity and are of good potential use in constructions and cast basalt. The scoriaceous pyroclastic material proved to be of excellent properties for use as lightweight aggregates, cultivation purposes, and for the production of pozzolanic cement. Smectite-rich beds (bentonite) from Ein El Badia could be used as binder, absorbent, and additives for feeding farm animals. Palygorskite is potential for use in drilling mud, paint, pharmaceuticals, and as a filtering medium. The diatomaceous earth deposits are Moler type and could be used as filter aid and absorbent. Zeolites are efficient for agricultural purposes, animal waste, and wastewater treatment plants. Saline brine is exploited in the Azraq mudflat area for table salt. Porcelanite could be used as an absorbent of hazardous elements, abrasive, and filler. The softness and high purity of chalk enable its use as filler and in the lime production. The large limestone concretions are of high quality for use as a building stone. Gypsum (gypcrete) could be used after the removal of the undesired chert impurities. The Badia region is a highly potential area for future exploration and mining industry in a manner that achieves the required outcomes and minimizes impacts on ecosystems. Keywords Jordan industrial minerals . Azraq depression . Basalt and pyroclastics . Zeolitic tuff . Diatomaceous earth . Palgorskite . Porcelanite . Chalk
Introduction The Azraq basin covers an area of about 12,710 km2 where 90% of the basin is located in Jordan, and more than 5% is extending to the north into Syria and minor areas are extending to the east into Saudi Arabia (Fig. 1). The Azraq basin is covered by 36 topographic sheets that were mapped by the Natural Resources Authority (NRA, Fig. 1a). The Azraq depression (El-Qa’) covers 90 km2 of the basin and is about 110 km east of Amman. The highest point of the basin is 1550 m and is located near the Syrian borders, while the lowest point is located at the Azraq depression (El-Qa’), with an * Hani N. Khoury [email protected] 1
Department of Geology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
elevation of 500 m above mean sea level. Several wadis drain into the interior of the basin from all directions (Fig. 1b). The Azraq depression lies within an arid region of the eastern d
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