The Mesopotamian Mineralogy researches..

CLAY MINERALOGY OF MID-CHANNEL BOTTOM SEDIMENTS FROM SOUTHERN PART OF SHATT AL-ARAB

Fawzi M. Al-Beyati*

Ali K.K. Naser*

Abdul-Mutalib H. Al-Marsoumi**

* College of Science, Baghdad University, Baghdad-Iraq.

** College of Science, Basrah University, Basrah-Iraq

Abstract

   Clay minerals seperatedfrom 40 recent sediments core samples of Shatt Al-Arab mid channel (up to 50 cm in depth) were x-rayed. The were identified  and semiquantitavely determined.  The percentages of these minerals are: Kaolinite 24%, chlorite 23%, illite 20%, mixed-layer illite –smectite 23% and mixed layer illite-chlorite 10%. The distribution of these minerals showed wide variation which could be attributed to different clay sources. Owing to the diagenetic processes, illite-chlorite and to a lesser extent illite-smectite mixed-layer exhibit a trend of increasing values toward Arabian Gulf, whereas, the variation in distribution of kaolinite, chlorite, and illite reflects their detrital origin.

** Phd: Abdul – Mutalib Hasson Mohammed Al-Marsoumi

     E-mail: abdmars@yahoo.com