Mineralogical Analysis of Sand Roses and Sand Dunes Samples from Two Regions of South Algeria

摘要

In this work, it is found that the important minerals in sand dunes and sand roses samples from Anqousa in the south-east of Algeria in Ouargla region and from Charouin in the south-west in Adrar area are the quartz and Gypsum phases. The aim of this study is a qualitative and quantitative minerals evaluations of two areas samples using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Granulometric classification and size distribution were carried out using Laser scattering particle size analyser. Numerous observed diffraction peaks confirm the presence of polycrystalline quartz phase in sand dunes samples as principal mineral. In the case of sand roses samples, the diffraction spectra show that the basic mineral is Gypsum. The sand dunes samples infrared absorption spectrum show the characteristic vibration bond peaks for quartz as 460, 695, 779 and 1082 cm(-1), also these analysis reveal the Gypsum characteristic peaks at 1616 and 1620 cm(-1). FTIR spectra enregistred on sand roses samples showed the absorption peaks at 3552, 3492, 3404, 1685, 1620, 669 and 602 cm(-1) indicate the presence of gypsum. Through combination between the results of DRX, FTIR and EDS, it appears that the concentration of quartz in ouargla sand samples is greater than that in Adrar sand, contrariwise the concentration of Gypsum in Adrar sand dunes is the most important. It was deduced that Adrar sand roses have the higher concentration of Gypsum. The grain size varies between 58.953 and 777.141 mu m with an average value approximate to 213.386 mu m for ouargla sand and between 74.219 and 198.531 mu m with an average value approximate to 132.684 mu m for Adrar sand dunes. The obtained results confirm that the two regions can be important sources of quartz and Gypsum as primary materials for many industry applications.