Industrial Assessment of Mineral Deposits of Zurbatiyah Area, Eastern Iraq.

The study deals with industrial assessment of deposits in Zurbatiyah area of eastern Iraq. The deposits are represented by limestone, marly limestone, gypsum and clay which belong to the Ibrahim, Serikagni, Dhiban, Jerbie, Fat'ha, Injana and Mukdadiya formations. These deposits are characterized by well extensions and thickness. These deposits were assessed for the cement, clay bricks and gypsum board industries; limestone wea fairly pure composed of calcite and trace amounts of quartz and dolomite. The chemical analyses of limestone showed its suitability for use in the OPC industry, it became more suitable when corrected materials containing alumina were added to be in agreement with the requirements of IQS, No. 5, 1984 for the cement industry. Gypsum has 45% SO3 and 31% CaO, moreover, gypsum is nearly pure with low impurities. It is considered a good raw material for preparation of panel gypsum boards. the flextural strength of prepared gypsum panels is compatible with the requirements of ASTM C473-2016. Clay deposits are composed of kaolinite (30% - 35%) followed by palygorskite (20% - 28%) a minor amount of iIllite and a mixed layer montmorillonite chlorite. Clay deposits have significant percentages of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O and moderate percent of CaO and Fe2O3 which qualifies them to be used in making clay building bricks of classes A and B according to the Iraqi standard specification No. 25, 1993 and British standard No.3921, 1985.