Mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of the phosphorites at Um El-Huwtat mine, Quseir, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract X-Ray diffraction results for the study mine are mainly represented by two phases (phosphatic and non-phosphatic). First phase is apatite (fluorapatite) which dominant. The second includes carbonate minerals; calcite, dolomite, evaporated mineral (gypsum), sulphide (pyrite), in addition to quartz as a silicate mineral. These confirmed petrographic study. detailed microscopic examinations indicate that phosphorites at essentially composed of phosphatic lithoclasts (mainly collophane), bioclasts (bone fragments, spines teeth vertebrates such shark fish well coprolites), opaques, embedded microcrystalline matrix (contains some dahllite) associated with according their decreasing order abundance. paragenetic sequence studied follows: fluorapatite, collophane then followed dahllite. redox-sensitive trace elements, its ratios, authigenic uranium Fe/Ti can be signifying redox conditions. Also, they revealed rocks deposited under oxic anoxic environment coupled hydrothermal solution. rare earth elements generally rocks. Thus, Um El-Huwtat mine, Quseir considered sources elements. pyrite another possible source REEs. characterized light REE (LREE = 69 ppm) enrichment than heavy (HREE 25 ppm). All recoded values metals higher those Tunisia (400.3 ppm), Morocco (571.75 Jordan (187 post-depositional conditions responsible U Th and/or intensive chemical weathering area. Enrichment Factor (EF) indicated or deletion may function association origins various phosphate fractions. suitable industrialized fertilizers world guides.