Sodium sulfate exploration in northeast of Ferdows
Sodium sulfate is an industrial mineral. The Industries and Mines Organization of Khorasan Province conducted an exploration project for this mineral between 1993 and 1994. Trenching, waste removal, mineral collection, geology mapping, sample analysis, mineralogy, X-ray analysis and physical parameters testing are some of executed works.
This area is located 17 km far from northeast of the Ferdows County. The area has dried climate with precipitation of 130 mm a year. The study area includes volcanic-pyroclastic rocks with green dykes. Sodium sulfate has occurred in hilltops over the early Tertiary latite and andesite volcanic rocks. Somewhere the upper waste material is 40 cm thick. At central and southeastern parts of the area Neogene conglomerate is exposed. Green tuffs contain lithic particles of andesite, quartz, mica, montmorillonite and gypsum. The deposit is a superficial one with NW-SE trend. Volcanic rocks include andesite, quartz latite, rhyolite, dacite, and crystall tuff. The chemical composition of parent rocks, groundwater, topography, climate and solvability of minerals are essential factors controlling the deposit.
Currently, total national production of sodium sulfate powder is 20000 tons per year; however annual consumption of it reaches to 50000 tones. This mineral is used in detergent powder, glass making, paper and etc.
Sodium sulfate of the area is mostly of thenardite with the grade of 50.55%. The deposit is recovered annually by producing 5cm-thick mineral layer, or 7500 tons mineral per year. Estimated reserve is 60000 tons. The deposit can be exploited using hand shovel.