Abstract
ABSTRACTThe source of the feldspar is found in the Late-Precambrian granitoid rocks of Al Madinah area, which covers about 2000 km2 within a 44,000 km2 area of the western part of Saudi Arabia. Petrographical and geochemical study shows that the granitic rocks have a considerable compositional range from quartz monzonite, quartz syenite, syenite, alkali granite to alkali feldspar granite. Mineralogical and petrographical results have revealed that Al Madinah granites are composed of quartz, K- feldspar, Na-plagioclase and muscovite. Geochemical data for the feldspar samples show average SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Na2O, CaO, Fe2O3, MgO and TiO2 contents of 71.33, 13.71, 4.78, 5.93, 1.17, 1.89, 0.34 and 0.31 wt.%, respectively, while mineralogical results reveal average K-feldspar and Na-plagioclase contents of 28.53% and 39.66%, respectively. They are almost invariably composed of metaluminous, calc-alkaline and shoshonite, with respect to alumina saturation. These deposits are characterized and evaluated for their potential as a source of feldspar.
Highlights
Feldspar, as the most common rock-forming mineral, has many applications in different industrial applications
Many researchers have carried out studies on the geology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Rock and mineral samples were collected from the granitic rock outcrops and the coordinates of the location where the samples were collected were recorded on a field notebook using a Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Summary
As the most common rock-forming mineral, has many applications in different industrial applications. It lowers the melting point of quartz, controlling the viscosity of glass. The high demand of feldspar for industrial activities (especially ceramics and glass manufactures) leads to consider alternative resources during recent years. This area, which is located at Al Madinah area in the western part of KSA, is composed of alkali granitic rocks suitable for feldspar exploration. This paper is the first attempt in delineating the different rock types in the basement granitic rocks of the study area and describing their petrographic, mineralogical and geo-chemical characteristics as well as the economic potential of feldspar
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