GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION OF LATERITE BODY OF LUMSHIWAL FORMATION, TAUHIDABAD SECTION NATHIAGALI, KP, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Compared to all other metallic elements put together, iron is the one element that is employed in industries in greater numbers. This is due to the metal's numerous uses in the production of machinery, cars, kitchenware, trains and train rails, ships, and bars for reinforced concrete. Despite the fact that the element is present in more than 80 minerals, only a few are significant as sources of iron. Currently, in World, roadways are primarily surfaced with laterites. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate laterites for iron ore. Because some of the iron in this area is known to be present in laterite bodies, this area was chosen for the investigation. The samples for this study were obtained from Tauhidabad section, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Eight samples were chosen during sampling from a range of roughly 30 feet. Eight samples were taken from a 30 feet outcrop, with each sample weighing around 1 kilogram and being labelled for analysis. The raw laterites were subjected to chemical analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Chemical testing revealed that raw laterites have an iron concentration ranging from 5 to 24 percent. This finding demonstrates that more research is necessary because the iron concentration of the laterite samples at this time is not commercially viable.