THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE KHUMS FORMATION (MIDDLE MIOCENE) IN THE QUARRY OF ARBIA CECEMENT FACTORY, ZLITEN,LIBYA

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the quality of limestone present in the quarries of Al-Arabia Cement Company, and to identify the physical and chemical properties of the rock layers in the quarry, which consisting of five layers starting from the surface to a depth of 100 meters.                          

This study was conducted by taking several samples from limestone ore quarries belonging to Al-Arabia Cement Factory, which is located 12 km south of the city center of Zliten in the northwest of Libya.                      

 The study concluded that the limestone of the Khums formation is an organic limestone was deposited in a marine deposition environment, Depending on the chemical analysis, the second layer, represented in sample No. 2, is the best among the five layers, it contains the highest percentage of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which reached 98.68% followed by layers 5,4,3,and 1 with 86.64, 85.27, 82.7 and 62.59% respectively. X-Ray Fluorescence was used to measure calcium oxides in the samples and showed compatible results with the chemical analysis.

The limestone in the study area is considered to be of high quality, all the layers contain high proportions of limestone except for the first layer might require a treatment or exclusion from the raw material.