10.57647/j.ijes.2025.1701.01

Geochemical analysis of the Maastrichtian phosphate stratum “Couche 3” and its exploitability in the Sidi Daoui mine (Ouled Abdoun, Morocco)

PDF
  • Abderrahim Ayad*1,
  1. Earth Sciences Department, Abdelmalek Essaˆadi University, Morocco
Geochemical analysis of the Maastrichtian phosphate stratum “Couche 3” and its exploitability in the Sidi Daoui mine (Ouled Abdoun, Morocco)

Received: 2024-04-05

Revised: 2024-07-13

Accepted: 2024-09-10

Published in Issue 2025-01-10

Copyright (c) 2025 Abderrahim Ayad (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ayad, A. (2025). Geochemical analysis of the Maastrichtian phosphate stratum “Couche 3” and its exploitability in the Sidi Daoui mine (Ouled Abdoun, Morocco). Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, 17(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.57647/j.ijes.2025.1701.01
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

PDF views: 375

Abstract

The Couche 3 (C3) of Sidi Daoui has long been considered an unexploitable low-grade phosphate stratum and was left behind. Nowadays, with the exhaustion of high-grade phosphate resources, the l’Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) Group plans to launch the exploitation of C3 by private mining companies. This study was undertaken under the authority of Sidi Daoui's exploitation service, IDK/CP-467 to investigate the feasibility of launching the exploitation of C3 in Sidi Daoui. Phosphate samples were taken from the stockpiles and analyzed for BPL (Bone Phosphate of Lime) and impurities. The analysis shows that the C3 of Sidi Daoui belongs to the category of low-grade phosphates, with a vertical gradient decreasing from the top (upper C3) with 61.42% BPL to the bottom (lower C3) with 58.59% BPL. Through these results, it is concluded that the upper C3 can achieve a relatively medium grade product, by using a selective exploitation method accompanied by a relevant and suitable mining processing approach, or by mixing its phosphate with that of high-grade strata coming from other mines such as Sidi Chennane, MEA Lahrech, or El Hlassa.

Keywords

  • Sidi Daoui,
  • OCP Group,
  • Couche 3,
  • Phosphate mine,
  • BPL
PDF

References

  1. Alouani A. (2016) Phosphate Beneficiation Development for Customers’ satisfaction in Sustainable Development way OCP case Khouribga - Jorf Lasfar. Procedia Engineering 138: 95-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.02.066
  2. Ayad A. (2022) Economic impact of derangements on mining process e case study: Sidi Chennane. Journal of Mining and Environment 13: 989-996. https://doi.org/10.22044/jme.2022.12326.2236
  3. Ayad A. (2023) Mapping of potential groundwater recharge sites in the Smaâla area (Central Morocco). Journal of African Earth Sciences 200: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2023.104888
  4. Ayad A., Amrani M., Bakkali S. (2019) Quantification of the Disturbances of phosphate series using the Box-counting method on geoelectrical images (Sidi Chennane, Morocco). International Journal of Geophysics 2019: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2565430
  5. Ayad A., Bakkali S. (2017) Interpretation of potential gravity anomalies of Ouled Abdoun phosphate basin (Central Morocco). Journal of Materials and Environmental Science 8: 3391-3397.
  6. Ayad A., Bakkali S. (2022) Multifractal Classification of the Disturbed Areas of the Sidi Chennane Phosphate Deposit, Morocco. Economic and Environmental Geology 55: 231-239. https://doi.org/10.9719/EEG.2022.55.3.231
  7. Bindraban P.S., Dimkpa C.O., Pandey R. (2020) Exploring phosphorus fertilizers and fertilization strategies for improved human and environmental health. Biology and Fertility of Soils 56: 299-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-019-01430-2
  8. Buccione R., Kechiched R., Mongelli G., Sinisi R. (2021) REEs in the North Africa P-Bearing Deposits, Paleoenvironments, and Economic Perspectives: A Review. Minerals 11:1-27. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020214
  9. Cooper J., Lombardi R., Boardman D., Carliell-Marquet C. (2011) The future distribution and production of global phosphate rock reserves. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 57: 78–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.09.009
  10. Cordell D., Drangert J.O., White S. (2009) The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought. Global Environmental Change 19: 292–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.009
  11. Dabiri R., Adli F., Javanbakht M. (2017) Environmental impacts of Aghdarband coal mine: pollution by heavy metals, Geopersia 7 (2), 311-321. https://doi.org/10.22059/geope.2017.229525.648308
  12. Dehghan A. N., Yazdi A. (2023) A geomechanical investigation for optimizing the ultimate slope design of shadan open pit mine, Iran, Indian Geotechnical Journal 53(4): 859-873. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00709-w
  13. Edixhoven J.D., Gupta J., Savenije H.H.G. (2013) Recent revisions of phosphate rock reserves and resources: a critique. Earth System Dynamics 5: 491–507. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-5-491-2014
  14. Filippelli G.M. (2011) Phosphate rock formation and marine phosphorus geochemistry: The deep time perspective. Chemosphere 84: 759–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.02.019
  15. Gross M. (2017) Where is all the phosphorus?. Current Biology 27:1141-1144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.10.046
  16. Jasinski S.M. (2020) Mineral commodity summaries: Phosphate Rock. U. S. Geological Survey 705: 122 123.
  17. Kocsis L., Gheerbrant E., Mouflih M., Cappetta H., Yans J., Amaghzaz M. (2014) Comprehensive stable isotope investigation of marine biogenic apatite from the late Cretaceous–early Eocene phosphate series of Morocco. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 394: 74–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.11.002
  18. Lawson A.C. (1931) The phosphate deposits of Kourigha, Morocco. Economic Geology 26: 480–484. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.26.5.480
  19. Leblanc A.R.H., Caldwell M.W., Bardet N. (2012) A new mosasaurine from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) phosphates of Morocco and its implications for mosasaurine systematic. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32: 82–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2012.624145
  20. Long N.H.B.S., Buňka R.G.F. (2011) Use of phosphates in meat products. African Journal of Biotechnology 10: 19874-19882. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJBX11.023
  21. Lucas J., Prévôt L., El Mountassir M. (1979) Les phosphorites rubéfiées de Sidi Daoui, transformation météorique locale du gisement de phosphate des Ouled Abdoun (Maroc). Sciences Géologiques Bulletin 32: 21–37.
  22. Pufahl P. K., Groat L. A. (2017) Sedimentary and Igneous Phosphate Deposits: Formation and Exploration: An Invited Paper. Economic Geology 112: 483–516. https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.112.3.483
  23. Ryszko U., Rusek P., Kołodyńska D. (2023) Quality of Phosphate Rocks from Various Deposits Used in Wet Phosphoric Acid and P-Fertilizer Production. Materials 16: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020793
  24. Saadat S., Ghoorchi M, Dabiri R. (2023) Extracting clay minerals with emphasis on Bentonite in Eastern Iran, using Landsat 8 and ASTER images, Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences 15(3): 188-194. https://doi.org/10.30495/ijes.2023.1973739.1815
  25. Shariati S., Ramadi A., Salsani A. (2015) Beneficiation of Low-Grade Phosphate Deposits by a Combination of Calcination and Shaking Tables: Southwest Iran, Minerals 5: 367-379. https://doi.org/10.3390/min5030367
  26. Takagi D., Miyagi A., Tazoe Y., Suganami M., Kawai‐Yamada M., Ueda A., Suzuki Y., Noguchi K., Hirotsu N., Makino A. (2020) Phosphorus toxicity disrupts Rubisco activation and reactive oxygen species defence systems by phytic acid accumulation in leaves. Plant, Cell & Environment 43: 2033–2053. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13772
  27. Yans J., Amaghzaz M., Bouya B., Cappetta H., Iacumin P., Kocsis L., Mouflih M., Selloum O., Sen S., Storme J., Gheerbrant E. (2013) First carbon isotope chemostratigraphy of the Ouled Abdoun phosphate Basin, Morocco; implications for dating and evolution of earliest African placental mammals. Gondwana Research, 25: 257–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2013.04.004