Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Mineralogy and source recent sediments of mariut lake Alexandria, Egypt

2013. №2, pp. 19-27

M. Khalifa Moataz - Post-graduate student, Astrakhan State University, 1 Shaumyan sq., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414000,, m_khalifa@yahoo.com

Kondrashin Ruslan V.  - C.Sc. In Geography, Assistant professor, Astrakhan State University, 1 Shaumyan sq., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414000,, georus71@mail.ru

Mariut salt lake in northern Egypt is separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow isthmus, which built the western part of the city of Alexandria. The lake is long from north-east to south-west shape. Mineralogy of the lake consists of 25 samples, which are widespread throughout the lake bottom. The samples were identified in the qualitative and semi-quantitatively by X-ray diffractometry. These samples were selected based on the content of clay and area coverage in the lake. In this study, using samples of bottom sediments was determined relative to the identity of the shale sediments Lake Mariut and existing methods of forming clay: clay rocks in the long run may be considered parent or indigenous. Argillaceous rocks are formed by changing the primary rocks by weathering or under the influence of hydrothermal solutions. Kind of image of clay depends on the composition of source rocks and the physical and chemical environment in which the change occurs. Permanent dominance of montmorillonite bottom of these deposits is mainly due to the fact that it is formed by the descent of water from agricultural land in the lake Mariut, and the fact that kaolinite coming from the flow of water for irrigation on drainage into the lake, stagnates in the sediments. However, in addition to clay identified and some other non-clay minerals such as gypsum, quartz, calcite, aragonite, Mg-calcite and dolomite. Mineral kaolinite reflects transgenic lake and river sediments, as well as the presence of dolomite and gypsum reflects their transgenic transfer from the surrounding areas.

Key words: mineralogy,lake sediments,clay mineral,Maruit Lake,Egypt

Read