Geochemical Characterization of The Wadies (Al Hash, Al Shaigh, and Rahib), Tobruq-Burdi Area, NE Libya

Abstract

This work was primarily focused on the chemical analysis (major and trace wt. %) of the Tobruq - Burdi area in the northeastern part of Libya, on the geological formations ranging in age from Late Cretaceous to Late Miocene at Wadies;  Al Hash, Al Shaigh and Al Rahib. The chemical analysis data showed that the Al Faidiyah Formation is richer in SiO2, TiO2, A12O3, Fe2O3, MgO, Na2O, K2O, and Cl than the other studied formations. In the Al Faidiyah and Al Jaghboub formations, the Na/Cl ratio is about 1 and Na2O is strongly correlated with Cl (r = 0.98) which indicates their accommodation in the form of halite. The positive correlations between Na2O and SO3 (r = 0.71) and between Cl and MgO and K2O (r = 0.98 and 0.77, respectively) indicate the possibility of other evaporate. However, from the viewpoint of commercial the formations vary in grade from high purity to impure limestone rocks. In addition to calcite, limestone contains other carbonates such as dolomite, and non-carbonate includes quartz, clay, halite, hematite, and glauconite minerals. The possible applications of limestones are; the cement industry, animal feedstuffs, agriculture, construction as aggregates, weighting agents in drilling mud fluids, plastics, and glass. Generally, the studied sediments contain low concentrations of high-field strength element oxides and low concentrations of heavy metal oxides.