Occurrence of Li,B, Cu and Zn in some Egyptian Nile sediments

Lithium, boron, copper and zinc have been determined on cored and surface sediments from the delta and the drainage valley of the Nile River. The clay size fraction separated from the samples consists of montmorillonite and kaolinite as the predominant clay components, followed by illite and chlorite. Quartz and calcite are the non-clay admixtures.Lithium content varies between 7 and 48 ppm in the bulk sediments and between 28 and 61 ppm in the clay fractions, being clearly enriched in the clay material. In the clay fractions, concentration of lithium in kaolinite is indicated by a close relation between the lithium and kaolinite contents and is further supported by a close correlation with A1₂O₃.Boron in the clay fraction (62–112 ppm) appears to be concentrated in detrital illite.The concentrations of copper (26–900 ppm) and zinc (65–333 ppm) in the clay fractions correlate positively with the CO₂ percentage. Both elements tend to occur in or on the claysized grains of caleite.