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2014 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Gypsum Crystals Formation and Habits, Umm Said Sabkha, Qatar

Author : Mariam Al-Youssef

Published in: Sabkha Ecosystems

Publisher: Springer Netherlands

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Abstract

This is the first study of gypsum crystal habits and crystallography in the famous, large, costal Umm Said Sabkha in the Qatar Peninsula. Eighty one sediment samples rich in crystals, four shallow core samples and eleven brine samples were collected for detailed studies. Gypsum crystals of various habits and sizes are formed in the surface crust and at shallow depths in the Sabkha sediments. The proportion of gypsum crystals increases in the location of fine sediments than in the sand sediments. The crystals are of acicular, prismatic, lenticular and sub-lenticular, inter-grown sub-lenticular, pyramidal, elliptical and semi-elliptical, and pseudo-tetragonal shapes. The crystals are euhedral, simple and tabular on (010), and the cleavage (010) is very good. Twinning on the (101) and the (100) is common. The crystals faces are parallel to two axes and include (110) prism, (111) pyramid, (011) a-dome, (101) b-dome and the a, b and c pinacoids.

Prismatic and acicular crystals of large and thick size are the dominant habits in the deposits within the Sabkha. Pyramidal, lenticular and sub-lenticular crystals are less dominant and occur mainly in the locations of fine sediments saturated by halite, whereas the crystals of desert raised shape are dominant in the sand dune area in the southwestern part of the Sabkha. The crystals formed above groundwater level and a few centimeters depth from the surface.

Shallow groundwater level, saturation of sediments by brines, high temperature, high evaporation and saturation of brines by SO₄ ⁻² and CaO₃ ²⁻ provide suitable conditions for the formation of gypsum crystals in the sediments. In addition, the type of host sediments plays an important role in the amount and habit of gypsum crystals in the Sabkha. The general elevation of Umm Said Sabkha above sea level (+1) leads to greater rates of evaporation over groundwater recharge in the Sabkha.

The main conclusion of this study are: (1) the conditions for formation of gypsum in the Umm Said Sabkha are available and accordingly, this Sabkha is a suitable place for establishing a project for cultivation of this important mineral and exploiting it economically; (2) making a center for scientific students and researchers to study the growth and development stages of gypsum crystals, and the conditions affecting their form, shapes, size and other aspects; and (3) This work can be used as a model for the study and utilization of the coastal and inland Sabkhas in Qatar and neighboring countries.

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Title: Gypsum Crystals Formation and Habits, Umm Said Sabkha, Qatar
Author: Mariam Al-Youssef
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Book: Sabkha Ecosystems
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7410-0

Electronic ISBN: 978-94-007-7411-7

Copyright Year: 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7411-7_2