Transcript جمهورية العراق وزارة الصناعة والمعادن ا

REPUBLIC OF IRAQ
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND MINERALS
STATE CO. OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
& MINING
MINERAL RESOURCES
OF
IRAQ
The geological and structural
development of Iraq provided
favourable conditions of formation of
various types of mineral deposits and
industrial rocks.
Most of the mineral resources of Iraq are
non–metallic sedimentary type
developed in various rock units of the
Arabian Platform. Igneous, metamorphic
and hydrothermal deposits
(including metallic ores.) are mainly
found in the Zagros Suture Zones .
The mineral resources of Iraq were explored
by various companies:-
* Site Investigation Co. ( UK) : 1940- 1958.
* Technoexport (former USSR) : 1958-1965.
* Geological Survey of Iraq: 1965-2007.
* Polytechna ( CGS) : 1978-1980.
* Bulgar Geomin : 1975-1978.
* Geozavod (former Yougoslavia ): 1980-1982.
MAIN MINERAL RESOURCES OF
IRAQ
Native Sulfur: About 600 m.t. of
native sulfur ( 60% of which
extractable by frash method) is
found in Middle Miocene Fatha
Formation in Mishrak Field near
Mosul. Production did not
exceed 1 m.t./year from one
site, and is mostly used in the
phosphate fertilizer industry .
Phosphorite : More than 10000
m.t. of proved reserves are
found in the Western Desert,
mostly in the Paleocene
Akashat Formation. Average
grade is 20-25% P2O5.
Annual production did not
exceed 2 m.t. and totally
used in fertilizers industry.
Salt ( NaCl ) : Various
resources of halite salt are
known in Iraq. Huge rock salt
deposits are known in
subsurface in the Sinjar and
Kirkuk areas in Middle
Miocene rock units.
Production is restricted now
to inland salterns mainly
Samawa Saltern where the
reserves are 50 m.t. of halite
salt. Major uses are food,
textiles and chemical
industries. Annual production
is about 200000 t.
Glauberite: About 22 m.t. of
reserves were found in
Shari Saltern near Sammara
associated with gypsum
and clays. The main use is
in the production of sodium
sulfate for detergents and
glass industries.
Limestone: Huge reserves
of high quality limestones
are found in Iraq, mainly in
Ratga Dammam, Euphrates,
Sinjar and Fatha formations.
More than 8000 m.t. were
proved. Main use is in
cement industry.
Dolomite: The major dolomite
deposits are found in Mulussa
and Zor Hauran Formations
(Triassic), Hussainiyat and
Amij formations
(Jurassic),Dammam
Formation(Eocene) and
Euphrates Formation
( Miocene). About 330 m.t. of
reserves are proved.
Experimental tests showed
suitability of Iraqi dolomite to
produce magnesia and
magnesia bricks.
Gypsum: The major primary gypsum
deposits are found in the Fatha
Formation (Miocene) in the Folded
Zone of Iraq. The proved reserves
exceed 130 m.t. and is mainly used
in the production of plaster for
building purposes.
Quartz- sand:Large deposits of
high purity quartz–sand are
found in the Gaَara Formation
(Permocarboniferous), Nahr-Umr
and Rutba formations
( Cretaceous ) in the Western
Desert. The proved reserves are
about 75m.t. Annual production
used to be 50000 t. mainly for
glass and ceramic industry.
Quartzite: Found in Nahr – Umr and
Rutba Formations (Cretaceous) in
the Western Desert.
About 16 m.t. are proved reserves,
mainly used in silicon industries.
Feldspathic sandstones: Feldspar–rich
sandstones, with up to 20% feldspar
are found in the Dibdibba Formation
near Najaf area. The feldspar is
mainly orthoclase; concentrated in
the corse fraction of the sand. The
proved reserves are about 2.3 m.t.
and mainly used in ceramic industry.
Standard sand: Used in cement
testing and found in the
Hussainiyat Formation (Jurassic)
in the Western Desert
Heavy – minerals sandstones: These
are found in the Gaَara and Amij
Formations in the Western Desert.
The main heavies are Zircon, rutile
and monazite.
Gravel and sand as building raw materials:
Found mostly in Quaternary deposits
(Fans and terraces) in several
deposits; mainly Nubai (gravel) and
Kerbala – Najaf and Basra (sand).
Quaternary clays: Used for the
production of bricks and in cement
industry. About 285 m.m3 are
proved for brick industry and 450
m.m3 for cement industry.
Kaolintic claystones: These are found
in the Gaَara, Hussainiyat and Amij
formations in the Western Desert.
They are fluvial deposits
associated with sandstones. About
1200 m.t. are proved and mostly
used in ceramic industry.
Experimental testing proved that
these Kaolinitic claystones may be
used to produce alumina by the
lime- sinter process.
Flint – clay: These are associated with
bauxite deposits and the reserves
are about 10 m.t. , mainly used in
white cement industry.
Montmorillonitic claystone: The main
deposits are of marine origin in the
Digma Formation (Cretaceous) in
the Western Desert. About 22 m.t.
are proved and mainly used in
drilling mud and civil engineering
works, as well as a filter aid.
Attapulgite–rich claystone: This is
found in various rock units from
Cretaceous to Neogene in age.
The major deposits are in Akashat
Formation (Paleocene ). Small
reserves are proved and mainly
used as filter aid and as salt – clay
in drilling fluids.
Celestite: Small reserves of
celestite were found in the
Injana and Dibdibba
formations (Najaf area). Not
exploited.
Porcelanite: Opal – CT rich
siliceous rocks are found
in the Digma and Akashat
formations in association
with phosphorites. About 1.8
m.t. were proved.
Experimental tests showed
suitability as a filter aid.
Bauxite: Small – scale karst
bauxite deposits of Cretaceous
age are found in the Ubaid
formation carbonates in the
Western Desert. The main use is
in refractories.
Ironstones: Sedimentary
pisolitic ironstone deposits of
pedogonic and fluvial origin
are found in the Hussainiyat
Formation (Jurassic). Proved
reserves are about 60 m.t. and
used in cement industry
Zinc & Lead: Significant Zn- Pb
deposits, strata– bound and
vein types are found in the
Northern Thrust Zone of
Kurdstan. They are Jurassic and
Cretaceous in age and
associated with carbonate
rocks, occasionally with barite
and pyrite associations.
Copper: Significant copper
showings were reported in
several localities in the Zagros
Suture Zones. They are mostly
of hydrothermal origin,
associated with igneous rocks
of basic and ultrabasic
composition. Some of which
may be part of the
Meditteranean Cu- belt related
to ophiolites. Most of the
occurrences are found in Mawat
Massif.
Chromium & Nickel: Numerous
showings of Ni- rich chromites
are found in the basic and
ultrabasic igneous complexes
of the Zagros Suture Zones,
especially in Mawat.
Iron and Manganese: Contact
metamorphic magnetite deposits
are found in the Qandil Series
(Cretaceous) in Penjween, Asnawa
and Mishau( Kurdstan ). More
over, ferromangnese nodules and
lenses are found in the Qulqula
Series (Jurrassic – Cretaceous) in
various localities in Kurdstan.
They are believed to be of
submarine volcano – sedimentary
origin.
Barite: Numerous barite
deposits are recorded in the
Northern Thrust Zone of
Kurdstan, mostly associated
with Zn-Pb deposits.
Asbestos: Minor showings of
asbestos (chrysotile) are
found as nests and lenses in
ultrabasic rocks of the
igneous complexes of the
Zagros Suture Zones.
Marble: High quality marble is
found in the Qandil Series
(Cretaceous) and Walash
Series (Paleogene ) in
Kurdstan Province. .
INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL OF IRAQI
MINERAL RESOURCES
oHigh diversity of mineral deposits and industrial rocks.
oHigh quality and specifications.
oGenerally easy mining conditions.
oLarge reserves of many deposits.
oMultiple industrial uses including:-
oCement industry and construction materials.
oDrilling mud.
oFilter aids.
oFertilizers and other major chemical industries.
oGlass and ceramic industries.
oRefractories.
oNon- ferrus metallic industries.
Availability of :
–Skilled man power
–Energy resources
–Water resources
–Political support for private investments.
–Marketing possibilities.
–Encouraging investment legislations
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