Study of the Variations in the Vertical and Horizontal Distribution of Heavy Sand Minerals in the Hilla River Sediments

• Published in: Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 318 - 330
• Main Authors: Hameed, Iman A., Abdul Rahman, Haleema Abdul Jabbar, Anmar, Alsaadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 01.07.2023
• Subjects: heavy minerals; sediments; specific gravity
• ISSN: 2299-8993; 2299-8993
• DOI: 10.12911/22998993/164752

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the Hilla River sediments on the heterogeneity of the distribution of heavy sand minerals for the fine and very fine sand classes as well as for the surface and subsurface layers. The results showed that the heavy sand minerals that were determined according to the specific gravity of each mineral and the specific gravity of the particles of minerals identified in the soils under study ranged between (2.5- 4.5) and were divided into four groups in terms of the specific gravity. The first group included each of the minerals (Mica and Chlorite) of low specific gravity, while the second group contains (Pyroxene, Amphibole, Epidote Group). The third group includes minerals (Tourmaline and Garnet, Staurolite and Kyanite) and the two groups are classified as minerals of medium-specific gravity; in turn, the fourth group contains minerals of high specific gravity, namely (Zircon, Rutile and Opaques). As a result, the most important factors affecting the sedimentation, sorting and sedimentation processes are the conveyor's speed, load capacity, the size of the separation particles and their specific gravity. The complete mismatch of the horizontal distribution of the minerals of one group is due to the varying ranges of the specific gravity of the minerals within the general range of specific gravity.