Clay Mineralogy of Mukdadiya Formation in Zawita, Amadia Areas.

Abstract

Twenty mudstone samples are chosen, each sample represents the mudstone units of each sedimentary cycle of Mukdadiya Formation in two sections (10 samples from Zawita area and 10 samples from Amadia area) in northern Iraq. X-ray Diffraction technique is used in order to identify the clay mineralogy of Mukdadiya Formation of both clay and non-clay minerals. The results of non-clay minerals are: quartz, feldspar and carbonate. The clay minerals are: kaolinite, chlorite, illite, montmorillonite and palygorskite by the major basal reflections of each clay mineral. The origins of these minerals are deduced also.