Title: Groundwater vulnerability mapping of Jordanian phosphate mining area based on phosphate concentration and GIS: Al-Abiad mine as a case study

Authors: Adnan Al-Harahsheh; Majed Ibrahim; Noureddine Elboughdiri; Mohammad Al-Harahsheh; Salah Aljbour

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Mutah University, Jordan; Department of Chemical Engineering, Hail University, SAK, Saudi Arabia ' Department of GIS and Remote Sensing, AABU, Jordan ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Hail University, SAK, Saudi Arabia; National School of Engineering Gabes, University of Gabes, Tunisi ' Department of Chemical Engineering, JUST, Jordan ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Mutah University, Jordan

Abstract: The present study uses DRASTIC model on a national rate and assess the groundwater contamination through phosphate release from the mining activities in south of Jordan (Al-Abiad area) using GIS environment. It is found that about 58.6% of the area was considered to be of moderate vulnerability, while high and low vulnerability was found to be at 0.6% and 42.8% respectively of the total area. On the other hand, investigation of infiltration process of selected pollutants (soluble phosphate and chloride ions) through the surface layer of study area has confirmed the vulnerability of the groundwater quality toward such as pollutants. Chemical analysis of the effluent washing water from the phosphate beneficiation process showed high concentration of P₂O₅ (TCP), Cl⁻ and SiO₂ comparing with influent washing water. Currently, the effluent water from Al-Abiad and other Jordanian phosphate mining industry is discharged into the desert without treatment or any attempt for reuse.

Keywords: vulnerability; waste water; groundwater; DRASTIC; phosphate; GIS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2019.103445

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2019 Vol.9 No.6, pp.627 - 639

Received: 02 Jun 2017
Accepted: 02 Mar 2018
Published online: 06 Nov 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article