Faten Al-Slaty

The Al-Risha phosphate resource deposit in northeastern Jordan represents a promising phosphate ore requiring beneficiation to improve its suitability for industrial utilization. This study characterized the physical, chemical, mineralogical, petrographic, and microstructural properties of the phosphate deposit and evaluated physical, chemical, and thermal beneficiation approaches. Representative samples were characterized by particle-size analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), petrographic microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Beneficiation experiments included dry and wet sieving, hydrochloric acid (HCl) and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) leaching, and calcination. The representative phosphate head sample contained 26.70 wt.% P₂O₅ and was dominated by francolite associated with calcite, quartz, and minor gypsum. Dry sieving provided limited upgrading, whereas wet sieving produced the highest P₂O₅ grade of 38.19 wt.% in the 0.250 mm fraction, with a mass yield of 41.54%, P₂O₅ recovery of 59.42%, and an upgrade ratio of 1.43. Among the chemical treatments, 5% (v/v) H₃PO₄ provided the most favorable balance between grade and phosphate recovery, producing 35.60 wt.% P₂O₅ in the 0.250 mm fraction with a mass yield of 80.62% and recovery of 97.72%, whereas increasing the acid concentration to 10% (v/v) adversely affected beneficiation performance. Calcination at 950 °C for 2 h increased the P₂O₅ grade to a maximum of 33.73 wt.%. Overall, the results revealed a trade-off between concentrate grade and phosphate recovery: wet sieving achieved the greatest physical enrichment and represents a promising reagent-free pre-concentration step, whereas dilute H₃PO₄ leaching provided the best balance between concentrate grade, mass yield, and phosphate recovery. These findings demonstrate the beneficiation potential of the Al-Risha phosphate deposit and provide a basis for further process optimization and techno-economic evaluation.

This study reports the discovery of a newly identified phosphorite deposit in the Al-Tafeh area of northern Jordan. Geological fieldwork investigated three outcrops and one comparison site in the Russifa area. Geochemical analyses reveal a high P₂O₅ content (average 24.32 wt.%), strongly correlating with CaO. There are also significant levels of trace elements, including uranium (0.045 mg/g), cadmium (0.025 mg/g), and zinc (0.099 mg/g). Mineralogical investigation reveals that francolite is the main phosphate mineral. Calcite and quartz are also present. Petrographic analysis reveals the presence of pellets, skeletal fragments, coated grains, and indicators of storm deposits, bioturbation, and fossil-rich layers. These findings indicate that the Al-Tafeh area in northern Jordan is an important yet under-explored area for phosphorite, suggesting that this discovery could have significant economic value.

Upper Cretaceous carbonate rocks in Jordan are the main resources for construction and paint-related industrial applications. This study evaluates the elemental composition, mineralogy, and petrography of two main geological formations from two localities in northern Jordan (Hallabat, Turonian age, and Ajlun, Santonian–Campanian age) to shed light on their composition, depositional environments, and potential industrial end uses. The elemental composition of the Hallabat Wadi Sir Limestone (WSL) Formation indicates notable variability between the middle and upper parts of the WSL carbonates in the area, with higher CaO content in the middle part (mean 55 wt.%) and higher silica content observed in the upper part (mean 2 wt.%) compared with the middle part (mean 0.9 wt.%). Meanwhile, analysis of the elemental composition of the Ajlun Amman Silicified Limestone (ASL) Formation indicates that the CaO content is relatively higher in the upper part (mean 56 wt.%). In addition, the lower part is more influenced by detrital input when compared with the upper part of the studied section, in contrast to the Hallabat WSL Formation. Petrographic analysis demonstrates that the WSL and ASL samples are predominantly micritic limestone. The XRD results for the Hallabat WSL and Ajlun ASL show that the mineralogical composition is dominated by calcite (CaCO₃). Statistical and PCA analyses also confirm these variabilities between the two sites, indicating that all samples from both sites were deposited under variable hydrodynamic and environmental conditions that affected their physical and chemical composition. The results show that all studied samples are in the range of pure limestone and can be used for specific industrial applications in addition to their current uses, including those in the pottery and porcelain ware, soda ash and caustic soda, steel industry, sugar, and textile production industries, thus contributing to the economic resources in Jordan.

This work aims to investigate the influence of adding Jordanian scoria on the characteristics of clay-based geopolymer. The clay deposit and scoria were gotten from north-east Jordan. The chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties of the used materials were examined. Scoria was added to clay-based geopolymer mixtures in different ratios: 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Comprehensive experimental tests were conducted to assess the effect of adding scoria on the properties of the produced geopolymer. The results revealed decreased compressive strength and dry density, whereas porosity, water absorption, cation exchange capacity, and specific surface area increased as the ratio of scoria increased. The mineralogical and microstructural analysis of the geopolymers after adding scoria indicates the formation of mineral phases, namely hydroxy-sodalite and hydroxy-cancrinite in addition to the gel phase. Este trabajo se enfoca en investigar los efectos en las características de geopolímeros a base de arcilla tras añadirles escoria volcánica de Jordania. La arcilla y la escoria volcánica fueron tomadas de depósitos en el noreste de Jordania. Luego se examinaron las propiedades químicas, mineralógicas y microestructurales de los materiales usados. La escoria volcánica fue añadida en diferentes proporciones en mezclas de geopolímeros con base en arcilla: 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, y 50 %. Posteriormente se realizaron pruebas experimentales para evaluar los efectos en las propiedades de los geopolímeros producidos tras haber añadido escoria volcánica. Los resultados revelan un decrecimiento en la fuerza compresiva y en la densidad seca, mientras que la porosidad, la absorción de agua, la capacidad de intercambio catiónico, y el área de superficie específica se incrementaron cuando la proporción de escoria volcánica también se incrementó. El análisis mineralógico y microestructural de los geopolímeros después de la adición de escoria volcánica indica la formación de fases minerales como la hidroxisodalita e hidroxicancrinita además de la fase de gel.

This study aims to investigate the stabilization of representative samples of expansive soil in the Al-Azraq area. This is achieved by mixing soil with different proportions of four types of stabilizers: lime, phosphatic clay, cement kiln dust (CKD), and sandstone. The index properties of the base soil have been investigated through various tests. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of materials have been examined. Compaction, California bearing ratio, and unconfined compression tests are used to assess the engineering properties of the stabilized soil. The results revealed that with 5% lime, 10% phosphatic clay, 7.5% CKD, and 10% sandstone, the plasticity index reduced from 60% to 17.2%, 18.47%, 17.52%, and 22.70%, respectively. The maximum dry density increased by adding 5% lime from 1.19 mg/cm3 to 1.58 mg/cm3. The optimum moisture content decreased from 40.1% to 25.1% with the addition of 5% lime. The California bearing ratio increased from 9% to 17.5% with the addition of 7.5% CKD. The unconfined compression strength improved significantly with the addition of all stabilizers due to chemical reactions that resulted in the production of binding compounds. The maximum compressive strengths were after 21 days of adding 5% lime and 7.5% CKD (1800 and 1720 Mpa, respectively). According to the results, the addition of 5% lime and 7.5% CKD is responsible for forming new product-binding materials that improve mechanical strength via the pozzolanic reaction. Reusing by-product materials such as CKD and phosphatic clay as non-traditional soil stabilizers could reduce the amount of these materials destined as waste.