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Assessing silicon deposits in Zilfi province, Saudi Arabia, using XRF and XRD techniques
Author(s) -
Attaelmanan Atta G.,
Suleman Nawal M.,
El Agib Ibrahim A.,
AlSewaidan Hamed A
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/xrs.2708
Subject(s) - silicon , homogeneous , mineral , mineralogy , x ray fluorescence , aluminium , metallurgy , environmental chemistry , materials science , geology , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental science , chemistry , fluorescence , physics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
The aim of this project is to create a geochemical database of the Nafud Desert in Zilfi Province, which lies 260 km northwest of Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, and assess its potential as a silicon mine. The area of study was surveyed during December 2012 collecting 21 geological samples from 7 places (Alsabla, Almatal, Shlwan, Alaaga, Jaway, Magra and Althuare). Elemental composition was determined using X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, while mineral content and crystallography analysis was performed using X‐ray diffraction. Analysis results revealed that silicon was abundant in the area, in fairly homogeneous amounts. Silica was found in concentrations of around 93% per sampled mass, and silicon concentrations were around 42%, in the surface layers down to the depth of 40 cm. Other elements (Al, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Sr, Zr and Pd ) were present in very low concentrations, except for aluminium oxide, which was present in three areas (Jaway, Magra and Althuare) at concentrations around 5%, while Alsabla samples showed higher concentrations of CaO. Thus, according to the results, the Nafud Desert is a rich source of silicon that can be exploited very cheaply because of the presence of the raw material on the surface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.