Investigation of Sarodagh Valley Chromite, its Mineralogy and Geochemistry

Abstract

This study examines the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of chromite in Sarodagh village, located in the Goshta district of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, highlighting the region's geological importance and mineral composition. The research clarifies the region, which is located along the Kabul-Kunar River route, around 45 kilometers from Jalalabad, at an elevation of 537 meters above sea level, using a combination of academic research, field observations, and laboratory analyses. The majority of the 455 square kilometer district's population are Pashtuns, mostly from the Momand tribe. After conducting macroscopic evaluations of chromite in the field, ten samples were gathered for in-depth laboratory examination where four samples were studied by petrographic microscope and ten samples powder were studied with geochemical (pXRF) Portable XRF. The petrographic analysis's findings indicate that the main minerals found in the chromite were olivine, pyroxene, and hornblende. Geochemically, a notable 45% reduction in silicon dioxide (SiO2) points to an ultramafic source for the chromite, which is just 0.4% of the total and has a limited distribution in the Earth's crust. By providing important insights into the geological origins and significance of the chromite deposits in Nangarhar Province, this research advances our understanding of these deposits. In order to assess these mineral deposits' economic potential, more research is recommended.