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INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, GRANULOMETRY AND MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DUST FALL OVER PHOSPHATE MINE ADJACENT AREA, CENTRAL JORDAN

T. EL-HASAN H. Hamaiedh

Abstract

Eight selected heavy and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni \& P) were analyzed in the dust fall samples collected from the surrounding areas adjacent to Al-Hisa phosphate mine central Jordan during summer 2008. The chemical analysis was done using the ICP-MS, after being digested with (HNO3/HCl) acid mixture. Beside the identification of their mineral constituents using the XRD. Moreover, the particle size determination on volume percentage basis for four fractions (PM<2.5, PM2.5– 10, PM10–100\& PM>100) was carried out. The PM10– PM100 were found to be the most abundant in the local atmosphere followed by PM2.5– PM10, while the respirable fraction (PM2.5) and giant fraction (PM>100) showed lower levels. The studied samples contain less PM2.5 and PM10 particulates (9.39 and 28.67) respectively, than blank samples (17.32 and 51.7) for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. This might indicate that the distribution of dust particle sizes was controlled by meteorological effect, mainly the prevailing wind direction and the lower precipitation rates. The effect of phosphate mining processes was obvious as indicated from the apatite domination beside the high P contents in the samples. This feature was different from the blank samples. Moreover, the Zn, Ni, Cu and to lesser extent Cr higher concentrations, which might be attributed to their significant positive correlation with P, as they might associated within the apatite mineral lattice.

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