Geochemistry and origin of quartz crystals from the upper part of sargelu formation, Rania area, Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan, ne Iraq

Abstract EN

Mineral characterization of samples collected from the upper part of Sargelu Formation at Rania area was carried out using the XRD and XRF techniques.

The obtained results from this study show the presence of quartz, in well crystalline structure.

The crystalline nature of quartz is studied by description and measurement of crystal axis and the forms of the quartz crystals.

The results obtained show that these crystals are trigonal, type: α-quartz, with crystal forms of rhombohedron, trigonal dipyramid, and trigonal prism.

Geochemical analyses for both host rock and quartz crystals carried out using XRF instrument.

The host rock is mainly composed of CaO and MgO, indicating dolomitic rocks, while the quartz crystals show the presence of traces of Al, Fe, Mg and Ca oxides accompanying the major component SiO2.

The genesis of this well crystalline α-quartz was related to chemical precipitation from deeper groundwater supersaturated within silica, and the source of silica possibly from dissolution of radiolarians, either within chert layers or in adjacent limestone beds of Sargelu Formation.