Geochemistry and microprobe investigations of Abu Tartur REE-bearing phosphorite, Western Desert, Egypt

Methylene blue adsorption by the waste of Abu-Tartour phosphate rock

“…Many authors presented evidence that, as a typical sedimentary ore in the Diuw formation, its main phosphate mineral is francolite (carbonate flourapatite) [14,15]. In addition, many accessory phosphate minerals were also reported in Abu-Tartour PR such as fluor- Table 1 Chemical analysis of the major constituents of Abou-Tartour phosphate rock (PR) and the fine fraction obtained by grinding-and-screening (smaller than 160 lm) ( [16][17][18][19].…”

“…Exploration of the mining area led to an estimation of 987 million tons as economic reserve [2]. The marketable phosphate is usually 30% P 2 O 5 or higher.…”

Geologic and Metallogenic Framework of North Africa

“…These deposits occur close to the Red Sea coast, in the Nile Valley, the Eastern Desert, and Western Desert in the Abu Tartur area, between latitudes 26°40ʹN and 29°30ʹN (Awadalla 2010) (Fig. 11).…”

“…Among these, the Maghrabi-Liffiya province contains the most important phosphorite deposits in the Abu Tartur area, based on large thicknesses and high grades of a lower phosphorite bed having *20-30 wt% (avg * 25 wt%) P 2 O 5 . Geochemical data indicate low U contents of 15-34 ppm with an average of 22 ppm, but relatively high total REE contents from 519 to 1139 ppm with an average of about 879 ppm (Awadalla 2010). Sedimentary facies analysis suggests that the major phosphorite beds represent transgressive lag deposits that accumulated in an oxic, bioturbated, wave-dominated shelf environment (Baioumy and Tada 2005).…”

“…Phosphogenesis was triggered by the interplay of multiple factors including warm climatic conditions, strong upwelling currents, high biological productivity and related plankton blooms, and the production of large amounts of organic matter and subsequent accumulation on the sea floor. Most phosphorite deposits formed when sea level was relatively high or during short-lived transgressions (Baioumy and Tada 2005;Ounis et al 2008;Awadalla 2010;Kocsis et al 2014).…”