The Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene of Phosphate Clays of the Ouled Bou Sbaa Deposit: Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Beneficiation (Meskala, Morocco)

This work aims first to characterize the Maastrichtian and Paleogene clays of Ouled Bou Sbaa phosphate deposit located in northern part Meskala Basin; as a second goal, most efficient clay fractions are tested identified for organic dyes removal. Several techniques methods have been adopted characterization clays: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluorescence (XRF), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Tests removal methylene blue from were carried out by adsorption. The XRD study shows that contain fibrous types palygorskite sepiolite, phyllite such montmorillonite illite. Stratigraphically, sample yielded, mainly aluminous dominated montmorillonites, while clays, palygorskite-types also rich magnesium, more common. results FTIR, XRF SEM analyses confirm mineralogical data, respectively, presence characteristic bands dominance oxides silica, aluminum, large which is presented form bundles or platelets long fibers stack sheets. adsorption (MB) on these showed very fast fixation kinetics purifying power this pollutant. equilibrium isotherms determined using Langmuir, Freundlich Elovich models. show isotherm had better agreement with correlation coefficient 0.959.