High- and low-temperature mineral phases from the pyrometamorphic rocks, Jordan

Abstract

The present review of high- and low-temperature minerals demonstrates the value of the pyrometamorphic rocks, altered varicolored marble (cement zones), travertine, and regolith in Jordan as analogues of cementitious repositories. The alkaline leachate contains hazardous elements such as Zn, Cd, Fe, Ni, Cu, V, Cr, Fe, Mo, As, Co, U, etc. The sites offer a good chance to investigate the interaction of the circulating high alkaline water with the rocks. The unusual high- and low-temperature minerals proved to be durable elements immobilizers which act as sinks for hazardous trace elements. The identified minerals and the solid solution series are indicators of the long-term behavior of natural analogues of cement-dominated repositories.