Petrography, Geochemistry and Petrogensis of Pleistocene Basaltic Flow from Northwest Atarous Area, Central Jordan

Fifteen basaltic rock samples were collected from central Jordan at the Atarous volcanism basaltic flow area. The samples cover about 8 km2 from the Atarous Basalt flow (AB). The AB flow was introduced in the Miocene to Pleistocene periods. The samples analyze major and trace elements by using XRF. Petrography, Geochemistry and Petrogensis have investigation to carried out for the AB. The petrography analyses of the AB rocks show they are composed of plagioclase (labradorite and bytownite), pyroxene (augite), and olivine (forsterite);accessory minerals include apatite and secondary minerals magnetite, ilmenite, spinel and iddingsite. The AB is classified within alkaline to sub-alkaline and tholeiitic to Calc-Alkaline basalt. The Mg# range between 0.39 and 0.49 of basalt samples exhibits different degrees of fractionation with a low degree of melting < 15% as indicated from the varying concentration of incompatible trace elements Ba, Rb, Sr. Trace elements of primary magna show low variable abundances of compatible and incompatible elements, which reflecs a homogenous source. Geochemical parameters such as Mg# and high Ti contents indicate that the corresponding magmas are of primary origin. The tectonic setting of AB is explained by using discrimination diagrams, Ti-Zr-Sr and Nb-Zr-Y and Ti-Zr-Y, the AB plotted within the plate basalt, alkali basalt and Calk alkaline basalt field, respectively. The spider diagram shows the samples AB enrichment of the Ba, K, Nb and Ce, depletion of Nb and Y. The AB exhibited positive Nb, Ce and Ti anomalies, and negative anomalies of Ba, Sr, and P. It is attributed to the fractionation of feldspar for Ba and Sr and apatite for P depletion. The spider diagram showed a positive Nb peak, which conforms to the tertiary and to recent continental alkali basalt provinces and indicates that the AB is the product of lithosphere from upwelling asthenosphere mantle.

Floral Species as Environmental Quality Indicators in Jordan: High Salinity and Alkalinity Environments

In this study the occurrence and ecology of plant assemblages are investigated, mainly for use as indicator plants of saline grounds in several locations in Jordan. High alkalinity and H2S-rich water tolerant species of plants are also discussed. Plants growing on salty grounds have distinct composition regarding their place in the taxonomic system. Plant assemblages and their degree of tolerance to salinity as in Karama area in the Jordan Valley are found to be distinct from that of Azraq Sabkha (Cental Jordan) with salt-tolerant flora. Karama area provides the living space for Mesembryanthemum on the saltiest ground, Suaeda further up on wetter surrounding and Salicornia succeeding on moist and less salty grounds. Drier places with rather salty grounds have bushes of Arthrocnemum, while slightly less salty places are preferred by Tamarix tetragyna. When Prosopis bushes appear, salt is only present periodically in the ground, as is also the case with Atriplex halimus and Capparis. In Azraq the former beach of a temporal lake is characterized by two species of Spergularia in its saltier parts and by Tamarix passerinoides. It was recognized that Tamarix, Phragmites, Chenopodium, and Inula represented alkaline water tolerant plants. The study concludes that the salt concentration in the ground is reflected in the composition of the flora growing on it. On the other hand, plants are also found vulnerable to fluctuation in the salt concentration of their environments with different resistance degrees. This makes them excellent bioindicators of salty environments.