Geochemical and heavy minerals investigation to identity provenance of dunes and valley sediments, at Al-Muthanna, southern Iraq

• Published in: Modeling earth systems and environment 2023-03, Vol.9 (1), p.129-143
• Main Authors: Hussein, Mohammed L., Al-Owaidi, Mohanad R. A., Al-Khafaji, Amer J., Abduulah, Murtada D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Computer Science; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Ecosystems; Environment; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Mathematical Applications in the Physical Sciences; Original Article; Physics; Statistics for Engineering
• ISSN: 2363-6203; 2363-6211
• DOI: 10.1007/s40808-022-01473-9

The major oxides, trace elements, and heavy minerals in the dune fields and valley-filling sediments were described and carried out through fieldwork. Twenty-four samples were selected for the analyses from the north and west of the Muthanna Governorate, whereby 12 samples were selected for each of them. The major oxides (SiO 2 , CaO, Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , MgO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, TiO 2 , SO 3 , and P 2 O 5 ) and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Sr, Ni, and Cd) were determined by the XRF technique. SiO 2 contained the highest content, while P 2 O 5 contained the lowest content. The geochemical classification included sublitharenite, subarkose, and graywacke. Geochemical weathering was restricted to low and moderate. CaO, SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , MgO, SO 3 , P 2 O 5 , and TiO 2 were enriched, while Na 2 O and K 2 O were depleted. The concentrations of Sr and Ni were higher than the other elements. The clastic sediments were felsic to intermediate. The heavy minerals were separated from the light minerals and observed by polarized microscope: they were opaque, amphibole, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, biotite, chlorite, muscovite, staurolite, garnet, zircon, tourmaline, rutile, and epidote. The opaque was the major heavy mineral component, while the minor component was staurolite. The clasts were mature to submature sediments and the tectonic regime was referring to continental arc which was related to subduction setting. The minerals were relatively having metastable condition.