Determination of Phosphate Rock Mines Signatures Using XRT and ICP-MS Elemental Analysis Techniques: Radionuclides, Oxides, Rare Earth, and Trace Elements

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to provide precise information on the fundamental elemental compositions of phosphate rocks from the El-Sibayia and El-Hamrawein mines in Egypt. To create an elemental fingerprint for the two locations under examination, twenty-five elements were determined (U, Th, Eu, Hf, La, Lu, Sm, Tb, Yb, Ce, Dy, Er, Nd, Pr, Tm, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co, Cd, Sc, Ag, Li, and Mo). The concentrations of radioelements (uranium, thorium), rare earth elements (REEs), and other trace elements and heavy metals in the phosphate samples under inquiry were compared to those found in other published work. The X-ray fluorescence method (XRF) was used to identify the various oxides found in phosphate rocks: SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, Na2O, K2O, Cr2O3, TiO2, P2O5, MnO, SrO and BaO. The data will be used to create a baseline level for these elements in phosphate rocks, as well as to assess the agronomic viability of the phosphate extracted from the El-Sibayia and El-Hamrawein mines.