Mineralogy of Sand Fraction in Selective Soil Sections in Baghdad City

Abstract

This study has been undertaken to investigate the mineralogical properties and morphological features of sand fraction in some soils of Baghdad / Iraq.The morphological features of sand fractions were studied by Polarized optical microscope. Results have shown that the grains of these minerals from samples of sands have different colors, those from the surface horizons have dark brownish spots, due to staining by organic matter, and have a yellowish– to yellowish brown spots due to accumulation of Iron oxides.Results of light minerals indicated that quartz is dominant due to effect of parent material of these soils. Two types of opaque minerals (black and brown) are found, whereas the brown opaque minerals were obvious in heavy minerals.Three groups of transparent heavy minerals are found, stable minerals (Pyroxen and Amphibole), metastable minerals (Epidote and Garnet), and Ultra stable minerals (Zircon and Tourmaline).