Abstract
This environmental engineering study was conducted to investigate and correlate the fundamental mineralogical compositions of phosphate rock in the Hazm Al-Jalamid area of Saudi Arabia at different layers originating from an open-pit mine. Microbial communities within these layers and the associated correlations between the mineralogical compositions at different geological and textural profiles were investigated. Three representative phosphaterock layers, upper, middle, and lower, were investigated. The dominated crystal structure of the upper layer was calcite, while dolomite, and quartz were in middle and lower layers, respectively. In contrast, Phosphate concentrations reached levels around 3.12%, 7.66%, and 3.92% of the overall content of representative samples in the upper, middle, and lower layers, respectively. The same trends were observed for both fluorapatite and phosphorus pentoxide. The microbiome of the phosphate-ore samples was evaluated. The phylum Proteobacteria dominated the upper and middle layers, while the well-known phosphate-solubilizing bacteria species Pseudomonas putida were present at 46% and 50% in both the upper and middle layers, respectively. In contrast, the actinobacterium Saccharopolyspora flava dominated the lower layer. Increasing selective phyla and species that associated with the elevated content of phosphorus from one layer to another within mine enhanced the understating of these microorganisms as extremophiles.
Highlights
Background of these phosphate rocksThe dominate crystal structure and phosphate concentration can be investigated usingSaudi Arabia is among the most economically important countries worldwide, because of its (1) different sources of mine ores and deposits and (2) phosphate deposits in the northern region in Al-Jalamid area [1,2]
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and associated mineral phases were evaluated and the nominal composition in quantitative-qualitative form for the major compounds and elements in the mine samples are shown in Table 1 and the analysis showed that the fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) and calcite (CaCO3) crystal structures were present in all three layers, dolomite (CaCO3·MgCO3) was in the middle and lower layers, while quartz was only in the lower layer
The same trends were observed for calcium (7.1–50.2%) and magnesium (0.04–7.93%) (Table 3). Previous studies of this open-pit-ore mine did not specify the sampling layer or depth beneath the surface, which may explain the variations in individual constituents among previous studies and the current study (Table 3). This is the first study to evaluate the percentage of mineral phases, oxides, and elements in the three layers of the internal wall of open-pit ore mine beneath the rock surface to determine the correlation between the phosphate rock crystals and microbial community
Summary
Saudi Arabia is among the most economically important countries worldwide, because of its (1) different sources of mine ores and deposits and (2) phosphate deposits in the northern region in Al-Jalamid area [1,2]. New mining activities have recently been started in Hazm Al-Jalamid in the northern region of Saudi Arabia to explore phosphate ores useful for manufacturing diammonium phosphate and/or monoammonium phosphate or natural slow-releasing rock phosphate fertilizers [1,2]. This mine is considered as an open-pit mine and is more than 10 m in depth. Phosphate are major components of DNA and the structural constituent of nucleic acids, phytin, and phospholipids, and have important biological functions [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
