Mineralogy and sedimentary geochemistry of incoming dust to the Khuzestan Province (case study: June 2012)

The phenomenon of dust due to recent drought has caused undesirable biological effects and great damages in agricultural, industrial, transportation and communication systems. Geochemical studies are important to determine the possible source of dust, geoenvironmental characteristics of elements and the role of their role in environmental pollution. Two area sources were identified for the incoming dust to the country by investigation of previous studies in June 2012 and 12 samples of dust in Abadan and Ahvaz were collected and their mineralogy and elemental analysis were analyzed. The results of mineralogy showed that carbonates (calcite and dolomite) have the source of feldspar with a source of continental and sedimentary. Lagoons and dried lakes are a source of clay minerals (chlorite and illite) and evaporate (halite and gypsum) and probably kaolinite originated from smectite and feldspar group. In regard to the results of the geochemistry of some heavy metals and radioactive indicate that most of them have an anthropogenic origin (Uranium, Cadmium, and Sulfur have high enrichment and lead, nickel, lithium, and molybdenum have medium enrichment). Being contaminated with hydrocarbon material and upstream processes of the oil industry, used elements in chemical and biological weapons and also dryness of lagoons and saline lands were effective in an unusual amount of these components.