Geology, geochemistry and are characteristics of the Jordanian phosphates

Abstract Jordan is situated on the northwestern side of the Arabian Plate, along the eastern flank of the ancient Tethys Ocean on the western side of the Dead Sea Transform. The country hosts huge phosphate deposits. The deposits at Eshidiya are comprised of overburden, four phosphate beds (A0, Al, A2 and A3), a coquina/marl waste bed, and two silicified phosphate chert interwaste beds. Eshidiya ore beds are treated separately through beneficiation and upgrading, as they produce products of different grade; they are subdivided into three classes. A 65% TCP (tricalcium phosphate) sub-commercial product is also produced. The detrimental impurities are considered to be among the lowest in the world. Chemical analyses of major oxides, organic matter and some traces in the product, which indicate almost similar chemical signature, are discussed herein