ORI GI NAL ARTI CLE

Geochemical and hydrogeological studies of a sodium sulphate

deposits: the case of Sabkhet El Ghine Oum El Khialate, southeast
Tunisia
Mohamed Ali Tagorti

Rihab Guellala

Wissem Gallala

Elhoucine Esse

Said Tlig
Accepted: 15 October 2013
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Abstract The El Ghine-Oum El Khialate sebkha extends
in southeast Tunisia on over than 75 km
2
. This depression is
lled by recent Quaternary deposits containing a brines
aquifer situated at a depth varying from 1 to 10 m. This
aquifer is highly rich in sodium sulphate. At the surface,
noticeable is the deposition of mirabilite and thenardite
encrusting. To quantify the salt reserves for a rational
exploitation, thirty dry cores (approximately 160 m of core)
were carried out in the sebkha. They underwent integrated
geological, geochemical and hydrogeological studies. The
estimated reserves are in the range of 8.10
6
t: Na
2
SO
4
,
2.10
6
t NaCl and 1.10
6
t MgCl
2
. The extraction of these salts
is restricted by the relatively poor hydrodynamic character-
istics of the reservoir evaluated during pumping tests.
Keywords El Ghine-Oum El Khialate sebkha
Tunisia Sodium sulphate Geological
Geochemical and hydrogeological studies
Exploitation
Introduction
The commercialized sodium sulphate (Josh Sulman 1923;
Estefan et al. 1980; Arakel and Cohen 1991; Garrett 2001;
Kelley and Holmden 2001; Kilic and Kilic 2005; Roy and
Smykatz-Kloss 2005) which is a necessary chemical prod-
uct for many industries (detergents, pharmaceuticals, paper,
rubber, glass, textiles, tanneries, fertilisers) is either
extracted from natural deposits or synthetically produced.
In nature, sodium sulphate is generally precipitated from
brine basins (lakes, ponds, sebkhas, playas, lagoons) after
evaporation in arid and semi-arid zones where the average
rainfall barely exceeds 100 mm/year. In such type of brines,
which may exist at different degrees of evaporation, the
evolution may be enhanced until the formation of solid
deposits of sodium sulphate. Natural forms of solid sodium
sulphate globally exploited vary in composition according
to the proportions of various salts: the thenardite (Na
2
SO
4
),
glaubers salt or mirabilite (Na
2
SO
4
, 10H
2
O), the glauberite
(Na
2
SO
4
, CaSO
4
) and the glaserite (Na
2
SO
4
, 3K
2
SO
4
).
The world consumption of sodium sulphate is constantly
increasing. In North Africa, the annual need, which is
mainly imported from Western Europe, may reach
approximately 100,000 tones. In Tunisia, the industrial
activity consumes about 15,000 t/year of sodium sulphate.
The Sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate (Fig. 1) may
M. A. Tagorti
U R: Genome, Diagnostic Immunitaire et Valorisation (GEDIV),
Institut Superieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir,
Monastir, Tunisia
e-mail: mohamedali.tagorti@gmail.com
R. Guellala
Laboratoire de Georessources, CERTE, Pole Technologique de
Borj Cedria, Universite de Carthage, 8020 Soliman, Tunisia
e-mail: gallalarabie@yahoo.fr
W. Gallala (&)
Departement des Sciences de la Terre Faculte des Sciences de
Gabe`s-Tunisia, RU: Georessources, Geosyste`mes et
Geoenvironnement, Gabe`s, Tunisia
e-mail: gallala_wissem@yahoo.fr
E. Esse
RU: Sedimentary Dynamics and Environment, National
Engineering School of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
e-mail: hocinse@yahoo.fr
S. Tlig
Departement Des Sciences de la Terre, FST,
Universite de Tunis El Manar, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia
e-mail: saidtlig@yahho.fr
1 3
Carbonates Evaporites
DOI 10.1007/s13146-013-0180-3
represent promise as a potential reserve of the sodium
sulphate salt. Several geological studies have focused on
the mining basin of Sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate
(Solignac 1942; Perthuisot 1976; Mammou 1983; Loukil
1988; Mahjoubi and Rouine 1990; Tagorti 1999). How-
ever, they remain controversial to propose a guideline for
optimal exploitation of the sebkha brines.
The main aims of this study deal with: (1) the recon-
struction of the sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate basin
structure; (2) the recognition of the lithology of the
deposits, the scope of the brine reservoir and its hydrody-
namic characteristics; (3) the analysis of the brines quality,
their origins and the evolution of their composition
according to climatic parameters; (4) the evaluation of the
sodium sulphate reserve.
Climatic context
The region is characterized by an arid climate imposing
real desert conditions. The temperatures and the rainfall
considerably vary according to the seasons. The wet period
of winter is marked by low continental character
temperatures (12 C). Quite the reverse, the dry period of
the summer is characterized by excessive temperatures
reaching sometimes 40 C in the shade.
The total rainfall average is about 100 mm/year with
signicant variations from 1 month to another (Fig. 2). The
total water coming from the surface runoff and feeding the
sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate has been estimated to be
1.9 9 10
6
m
3
per year (Mammou 1983).
The indexes of evaporation are at their highest level in
July and August reecting a noticeable correlation with the
temperature variation. Depending on the season, the wind
sector changes and sometimes blows with an instantaneous
speed easily reaching 10 m/s.
The winds of the wet period are generally from the west
to east. Those, of the dry period, are rather from the south to
south-south-west. The latter is frequently accompanied with
Sirocco winds especially during June, July and August.
Geological setting
The sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate belongs to the
stable area of Saharian platform (Caire 1971). From East to
Fig. 1 Localization and
geological facies of the studied
area: a geographical location of
Sabkhet Oum El Khialate;
b overall satellite image of
studied area (Google Earth);
c geologic map units
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
West, this structural domain consists of three areas: the
Jeffara, the Dahar, and the so-called Grand Erg oriental
(Fig. 1). Except the region of Tebaga Mednine (Mathieu
1949; Khessibi 1985; Bouaziz et al. 2002; Raulin et al.
2011), the Saharian platform does not present any intense
tectonic deformation. Only few structural traits are inher-
ited from the Palaeozoic: the basin of Jeffara, the Grand
Erg oriental, the monocline of Dahar, the EW accident of
Rehach and Tebaga and nally the NW-SE accident of
south Tunisian (Ben Ayed 1986; Lazzez et al. 2008; Gabtni
et al. 2009).
The sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate is located in the
Jeffara area (Fig. 1) which is a vast plain bordered from the
west by the NWSE Southern Tunisia accident. In some
other works, this incident is also so-called the accident of
Mednine (Castany 1954) or Jeffara (Divernoy 1994).
Sedimentological studies have identied the associa-
tions of the different facies (Fig. 3) around sebkha El
Ghine-Oum El Khialate (Choubert and Robaux 1940;
Busson 1967; Tlig 1978; Bouaziz and Mhadhbi 1990; Ben
Ismail 1991; Peybernes et al. 1993; Ouaja 2003).
Trias includes three types of lithological units from the
base to the top: the alternation of dolomites, sandstones and
siltstones of the Middle-Upper Carnian unit followed by
Carnian to Norian Beni Mhira clays unit. This facies
admits intercalations of gypsum which changes in the base
Norian-Rhaetian unit made by dolomite and brecciaed
limestone, with passages of sandstone, sandy clay and
gypsum.
The western part of the sebkha is limited by alignments
of hills formed mainly by Jurassic deposits which are
represented by the basal Rhaetian-Sinemurian evaporites
and dolomites that are overlain by Lower Lias Zmilet
Haber limestones. The limestones are considered poor in
fauna. They are covered by the gypsum of Mestaoua
(Toarcian-Lower Bajocian) which are thick and may con-
tain intercalations of dolomites with bivalves. Around the
sebkha, the Pleistocene to Holocene sediments are repre-
sented by aeolian and uvial sediments, and various crusts.
Materials and methods
Thirty core samples were collected (Fig. 3). Geological
correlations of core logging were carried out to reconstitute
the depositional sequences and the geometry of the sodium
sulphate deposits. Brines of all the drilled wells were
analysed to determinate their chemical compositions.
These assessed parameters are the total brine load, the
levels related to ow and leaching of salts. The variation of
these parameters is caused by seasonal precipitation, dis-
solution and inltration.
All samples were ltered and diluted to 1/10 to avoid the
crystallization of salts at low temperatures. A little volume
of the solution was neutralized for the determination of
alkaline reserve. Chlorine was measured by titration with
silver nitrate whereas sulphate was estimated by barium
chloride method. K and Na were also assessed by ame
photometry. Finally, the amounts of Ca
2?
and Mg
2?
were
measured by atomic absorption.
A long duration pumping tests were realized for the
recognition of hydrodynamic parameters of the ow res-
ervoir, the aquifer transmissivity and storage coefcient in
the case where a piezometer could be executed near the
pumping wells. The tests were conducted in different wells
with a drawdown test and a lift test. Drawdowns due to
pumping (linear scale) are carried out according to a time
logarithmic scale. The medium line represents the equation
bellow:
Fig. 3 Distribution of coring sections
Fig. 2 Rainfall data for Oum El Khialate station
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
s 0:183 Q =T log 2:25Tt=x
2
S

1
s Drawdown in a piezometer measured in m
Q Constant pumping rate, m
3
/s
T Transmissivity in m
2
/s,
S Storage coefcient, dimensionless
t Time elapsed since the start of pumping, in seconds
x Distance from the axis of the piezometer wells, m.
This value is not binding if the test wells were not
equipped with piezometer.
The medium line intersects the time axis in a point t
0
,
representing the ctitious time of start of pumping, when
the aquifer is beginning to be applied.
On the drawdown line, the slope p was calculated by
graphic measuring of drawdown during a logarithmic
module (drawdown line a) and transmissivity (T) is cal-
culated from the Eq. (2):
T 0:183 Q =p 2
The storage coefcient (S) can be approximated in the
logarithmic term of the expression (1), or rather from the
time when it can be determined to the lift line by the Eq.
(3):
S 2:25 T
to
=x
2
3
Results and discussion
Interpretation of the geological facies
The correlation between core logging allows identication
of basin facies as well as their spatial distribution. Basing
upon facies associations (clay, gypsum, silts and sands),
three facies units can be identied in the subsurface:
UNIT I is formed by the Beni Mhira Triassic clays. It
is a regular and impermeable level extending in depth
and around the basin. Clays of this Unit are red, ne
with some blocks or ne rollers sandstone. At the upper
part, some levels seem to be previously reshufed
during the Quaternary. They also contain lamellar,
sugary, brous gypsum intercalations more or less
reduced in thickness, but may be locally common and
thick.
UNIT II mainly consists of silty clays, interbedded silts
with reduced thickness, more or less compact clay
bands and intercalations of gypsum. Deposits of
evaporites and clays are akin to be rich with gypsum
crystals especially in the central half of the basin
(Fig. 4). This reects a structure of a shallow basin at
this area characterized by the lowest altitudes
(8393 m) as indicated by topographical surveys. Rich
brines were also encountered. While moving to the
western half of the basin, the facies are thin and appear
to pass laterally over a succession of strata.
UNIT III is the surface unit. It contains silts, crystal-
lized salts, deeper intercalations of gypsum, sand, silt
intervals and sometimes intervals of ne laminated
clays with gypsum. In the points where the water
emerges, salt crusts are covering several tens of
hectares particularly in the central and southeastern
parts of the basin.
Units II and III: represent the Quaternary reservoir of
brines. The thicker expansion of these units (from 4 to
6.5 m) is in the eastern part of the basin. These units
formed the outlet (25 km
2
) where the denser brines were
concentrated. Westward and southeastward of the basin,
the thickness of Unit II and III is reduced. The upper part of
the cores above Unit I (Clays Beni Mhira) does not exceed
13.50 m. It includes silty clays, laminated gypsum and
aeolian red silts. In the upper part (about 1 m), we moni-
tored also the presence of silt with crystal salt and sebkha
soils.
Some drills situated in the right part of the basin
reached, quickly the Beni Mhira clays (depth of about
1 m). Small thickness of the reservoir at these sites is
certainly caused by the non-deposition period on paleo-
uplands in the bottom of the lagoon or due to a soft bedrock
deformation causing a bathymetric variation.
Geochemical study
The chemical analyses of the unit I, formed by Triassic
clays of Beni Mhira (Table 1), occasionally show high
levels of Al
2
O
3
(1617 %) due to the presence of kaolinite,
illite associated with K
2
O because of the presence of illite
and ferriferous (F
2
O
3
: 910 %) and Na
2
O probably trapped
in interbedded brines. In this regard, the high levels of
chlorine are rather an indication of an effect of brine and
the high Na
2
O contents (34 %) slightly correlated with
Al
2
O
3
. It is worth noting that high levels of SO
3
are not
only caused by gypsum, but also by the presence of sul-
phate sodium. Beni Mhira clays incorporate crystallized
and intercalated gypsum ions. This is manifested by high
values of CaO, SO
3
and the loss of ignition. Amounts of
CaO and SO
3
are slightly correlated. This may be a sign of
the presence of other sulphate salts crystallized from
inltrated brines.
Both units II and III representing the reservoirs are
richer in gypsum brines. They rarely contain ne sand.
Their chemical and mineralogical composition varies
throughout the basin. The gypsum is brous or lamellar.
Except Ca and SO
3
, chemical analyses indicate a small
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
fraction of clays associated with gypsum, but no more
sulphate salt seems to be associated with this type of facies.
On the one hand, the clayey sands are quite heteroge-
neous and coarse. They may correspond to a dropped wash.
On the other hand, silts are very ne and homogeneous.
They may have as origins either a water runoff enriched
with detritus or an aerosol deposition winds. These looks-
like silts are very thin with abundant clayey fraction.
The analysis of the chemical composition of brines
(Table 2) reveals that the contents of Na
?
, Mg
??
, Cl
-
and
SO
4
-
are the most dominant. According to their relative
abundance, two types of brines could be distinguished: (1)
at the North West and North periphery, brines are com-
posed of sodium sulphate and chlorinated magnesium. (2)
At the centre East and South East, in the area of lowland
and crusting salts, brines are instead rich with sodium and
magnesian sulphate. The rst is the sign of sulphates dis-
solution and their concentration in the leachate. The latter
is probably under the inuence of the salts crystallization
due to evaporation. Their Mg contents increase and sul-
phate contents decrease as compared to chlorine. Thus,
they become sodiummagnesium chlorinate and sulphate
and the sodium is still relatively in excess.
Amounts of Mg are very high as compared to those of
Ca. Calcium seems to be early eliminated in the form of
gypsum. Thus, the Mg/Ca ratio suddenly increases before
being already increased by the evaporation process. In
calculated molar balances, it is clear that sodium sulphate is
always predominant with concentrations ranging from 50 to
170 g/l. Sodium chloride has a wide range of variations in
content: from 20 to 100 g/l. Magnesium chloride has lower
concentration of 5 to 10 g/l, especially in the peripheral
parts North West and North. Notably, these levels rapidly
increased to reach 20 and 40 g/l in the lower bottom of the
coaleld mainly as a result of the fractionation phenome-
non. It is noteworthy to mention that the latter process is
triggered due to crystallization originated itself during the
brines evaporation in the most saturated areas. The pro-
portions of calcium sulphate are accessories to a maximum
of 35 g/l. In the richest areas with salts, the proportions
never exceed 1 % beckoning the presence of some impu-
rities. Concentrations of potassium chloride are also low.
However, a signicant increase in levels of this compound
in the southern part of the basin can be mentioned mainly
Fig. 4 Geological cross section in the central part of the basin
Table 1 Chemical composition of the sabkha deposits
Clay (n = 12) Silt (n = 4) Gypsum (n = 10)
CaO 2.41 4.2 9.81
MgO 3.0 0.28 4.6
SiO
2
46.41 78.32 26.31
Fe
2
O
3
6.85 1.59 1.6
Al
2
O
3
15.31 3.65 3.82
MnO 0.053 0.02 0.02
Na
2
O 1.68 0.23 2.45
K
2
O 2.78 2.90 1.00
TiO
2
0.99 0.33 0.10
Cl 1.44 0.01 3.03
SO
3
1.91 2.51 25.88
LOl 16.17 6.0 20.07
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
due to the evaporation and to the fractionation. In this zone,
the concentration could easily reach 10 g/l.
The factors governing the composition of the brines are
the phenomena of dissolutioncrystallization. Each process
of them is signicantly operating in favour of the other.
The dissolutioncrystallization depends on the daily tem-
perature variations, drying winds, evaporation and rainfall.
Constituents of the paragenesis minerals (mirabilite, the-
nardite, halite, epsomite) are naturally very soluble salts.
For example, a rain immediately results in a recrystalliza-
tion of thenardite in mirabilite. It is thus difcult to
establish a brine composition for a particular site. Conse-
quently, it is better to evoke intermediate average values
between those of winter and summer.
Hydrogeological study
The monthly piezometric monitoring compared to hydric
inputs and topographic data of basin led to the recognition
of the ow across the reservoir basin. The acquired data
were used to dene relationships between water surface
and the other aquifers in the region.
As a starting point, it seems that the groundwater brines at
El Ghine-OumEl Khialate is an unconned aquifer based on
a Triassic clays screen (4050 m thick), within Quaternary
deposits. The absence of major tectonic accidents proves the
independence of the owwithin this aquifer when compared
with the other ow identied in the region: the aquifer of the
Upper Triassic carbonates, the deeper aquifer of Lower
Triassic sandstone and the Permian reservoir.
The aquifer consists of silts, clayey gypsum, gypsum,
solid mirabilite (Fig. 5), rarely thin layers and sand lenses. Its
total thickness is less than 10 m. Within the sebkha, the
groundwater level is located at a depth of 1.70.6 m(Fig. 6).
Tracking changes at this level reects small uctuations
(23 cm) between the day and the night with a slight
charging at night. Seasonal variations are very important and
are directly related to the precipitation/evaporation ratio.
The ow in the basin is from the Northwest and the
North to the Southeast. It is directed to the lower depres-
sions of the basin, which are the main places of drainage
and evaporation. In these depressions, salt crusts are rich in
mirabilite after each raining (Fig. 7).
Taking into account the facies encountered in the reser-
voirs with a predominance of clays and silts with thin
alternating lamellar and brous gypsum, porosity should
not exceed 15 %. This value reects the poor reservoir
characteristics which are conrmed by a long duration
pumping tests. This was unexpected in this type of
depression naturally characterized by a low ow of water
(Table 3) and a salt concentration. The average ow at a
constant level is ranging from 0.5 to 1 m
3
/h, the transmis-
sivity is between 10
-4
and 10
-5
m
2
/s and nally the storage
coefcient is in the range of 10
-4
. These results already
indicate that the hydrodynamic characteristics of the res-
ervoir are a limiting factor for the cottage brine operation.
Reserve estimation
The geological, geochemical and hydrogeological study
shows that the sebkha El Ghine-Oum El Khialate basin
provides a precious reserve of salts in the water and in the
sediments that could be used for industrial exploitation.
Table 2 Chemical composition of brines (measures are in g/l)
Well CaSO
4
Na
2
SO
4
Na
2
CI
2
MgCI
2
K
2
CI
2
Ca
??
Mg
??
Na
?
K
?
SO
4
= Cl
-
F8 2.39 80.28 27.09 7.51 1.37 70 192 3,665 72 11,942 1,952
G9 3.16 164.44 32.91 3.25 1.51 93 84 6,619 79 11,343 1,952
G10 4.25 154.56 33.34 5.64 2.52 125 144 6,316 132 10,751 2,574
G11 3.64 163.89 19.71 11.28 0.84 107 288 6,082 44 11,339 1,587
H9 3.16 147.2 56.77 16.91 5.65 93 432 6,999 296 10,176 149
H10 3.09 143.03 71.98 14.1 5.46 91 360 7,330 286 9,613 4,514
H11 4.27 146 43.43 36.66 8.68 126 936 6,436 455 10,175 5,559
H12 5.43 170.9 42.24 4.7 2.12 160 120 7,196 111 11,942 2,908
l9 3.27 71.5 91.42 31.95 8.98 96 816 5,912 471 5,066 8,747
l10 3.6 63.29 62.59 13.16 4.94 106 336 4,511 259 4,533 5,559
l11 3.16 47.94 74.06 8.46 3.62 93 216 4,466 196 3,465 5,149
l12 4.52 163.01 23.4 11.28 3.83 133 288 6,198 201 11,342 2,574
J11 3.34 164.25 9.48 18.8 8.47 98 480 5,691 444 11,342 1,952
J12 3.43 134.47 100.96 40.41 10.69 101 1,032 8,326 561 9,335 9,527
J13 3.27 164.32 42.67 10.34 5.74 96 264 6,999 301 11,342 3,356
K12 3.7 155.12 110 31.39 10.9 109 840 9,350 571 10,751 9,527
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
The aquifer reserves of brines rich with sodium
sulphate, sodium and magnesium chlorite is located
in a reservoir constituted with silt, clay silt, gypsum and
clay (Units II ? III). The porosity of this reservoir is
difcult to measure. However, in this type of material,
the porosity would be in the range of 1520 %. The
aquifer has an average thick of 4 m and can reach a
thickness to 45 km
These data allow the estimation of the total volume of
brine aquifer that would be exploited for the sodium sul-
phate. (Surface of the aquifer) 45 9 10
6
m
2
9 4 (thick-
ness of the aquifer) 9 0.2 (porosity of the reservoir) =
36 9 10
6
m
3
.
Considering the chemical variation range, the compo-
sition along a global surface of 45 km
2
is subsequently
deduced (Table 4).
Reserves of solid salts The salt reserves mean a salt crust
formed on the surface by evaporation covering huge sur-
faces along the bottom of the basin. Mines are encountered
by many drillings.
Solid mines within reservoir: This mine consists of mi-
rabilite forming a deep layer of 23.5 m varying from
0.3 m to more than 1.5 m. This layer extends on the east
centre of the basin along a surface of 10 Km
2
.
Considering 1 m as the average thickness of this layer,
an average concentration of mirabilite of 50 %, a mirabilite
density of 1.4 and the proportion of anhydride soda sul-
phate within the mirabilite of 44 %, the reserves of anhy-
dride salt within the reservoir would be as follow:
1010
6
m
2
surface 1 m thickness 0:5concentration
1:4 density 0:44 proportion of anhydride salt
3:110
6
t Na
2
SO
4
anhydride
Surface encrusting It is formed along extended areas
within the east and southeast centre of the basin. T constitutes
a solid reserve at the surface easy to exploit. The thickness of
Fig. 7 Salt deposits after rainfall
Table 3 Hydrodynamic parameters of the reservoir
Well Rate
(m
3
/h)
Drawdown
(m)
Spec.
rate
(l/s/m)
Transmissivity
(m
2
/s)
Storage
D5 0.91 2.89 0.32 2.2 9 10
-5
D7 0.76 2.88 0.26 1.3 9 10
-5
E10 0.54 3.545 0.16 1.5 9 10
-5
F7 0.47 3.165 0.15 1.1 9 10
-5
F9 1.15 2.43 0.13 2 9 10
-5
2 9 10
-4
Fll 0.61 2.9 0.08 1.5 9 10
-5
0.5 9 10
-4
G6 0.72 1.125 0.56 4.53 9 10
-5
G9 0.47 3.545 0.15 1.9 9 10
-5
G1O 0.83 3 0.08 1.42 9 10
-5
0.76 9 10
-4
G11 1.08 1.18 0.26 11.1 9 10
-5
H1O 0.76 1.31 0.16 4 9 10
-5
2.22 9 10
-4
l11 0.36 1.965 0.18 1.9 9 10
-5
Fig. 5 Projection of the samples of the Oum Khialate brine on
Janecke diagram
Fig. 6 Piezometric map of El Ghine-Oum El Khialate aquifer
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
the formed crust is in the range of 10 cm and the covered
surfaces reach several km
2
. For a comparable salt
concentration to that of brine, the solid reserves estimated
for the sodium, magnesium and potassic salt are as follow:
Na
2
SO
4
10
6
t
Na
2
Cl
2
0:68
MgCl
2
0:07
K
2
Cl
2
2:10
3

Total reserves By the addition of the calculated reserves

for the different parts of the mining, it is clear that the
reserves of salt are important. They may be classied
according to their degree of certitude as certain (colon 1)
Na
2
SO
4
7:69 9:49 10
6
t
Na
2
Cl
2
1:72 4:28
MgCl
2
0:25 1:15
K
2
Cl
2
0:038 0:362
and possible (colon 2) reserves. The exploitation of the half
of these reserves may satisfy a century of continuous
exploitation of an industrial unit having a capacity in the
range of 50,000 t/year maximum.
Conclusion
The Sebkha El Ghine Oum El Khialete represents
potential solid and brines reserves of the sodium sul-
phate Na
2
SO
4
10 H
2
O at the surface easy for exploi-
tation. The reserves are made of Unit II and Unit III
where the denser brines were concentrated, whereas the
Unit I contains silt with crystal salts and sebkha soils.
To determinate the chemical compositions of all the
drilled wells brines, geochemical and hydrogeological
studies were achieved. The results of such studies
proved that high levels of SO
3
are caused by the
presence of sulphate sodium in Unit I. Besides, the
climate inuencing the brines composition leads to the
variation of minerals paragenesis (mirabilite, halite,
thenardite, epsomite).
Although the porosity and the permeability of the
reservoir are very low and difcult to measure, the
reserves of the sodium sulphate salt are very important
and may satisfy a considerable number of industries in
Tunisia.
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Table 4 Estimated reserves of soluble salts
Salts Composition for a
surface of 45 km
2
(g/l)
Reserves of
soluble sels (t)
Na
2
SO
4
100150 3.65.4 9 10
6
Na
2
Cl
2
30100 1.083.6-
MgCl
2
530 0.181.08-
K
2
Cl
2
110 0.0360.36-
CaSO
4
15 0.0360.18-
Carbonates Evaporites
1 3
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Carbonates Evaporites
1 3