Physico-chemical study and microstructural characterization of sands in the North Coasts of Doukkala region Morocco

Abstract

This research presents a comprehensive investigation into the diverse coastal sands of the Doukkala region, encompassing El Jadida, El Haouzia, Lala Aicha El Bahria, Sidi Bounnayem, and Mazagan Beach. To achieve this, we employed a range of analytical techniques, including sieving granulometry, bulk density, absolute density, water absorption, pH measurement, electrical conductivity (EC), total soluble solids (TSS), salinity, X-ray diffraction (XDR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings of this study unveiled that the predominant component in these sands is silicon dioxide (SiO2), with the presence of impurities such as iron, clay, and organic matter. This research holds significant value in the context of materials used in construction.