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Heavy minerals identification and extraction along coastal sediments using placer mining technique

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Abstract

This paper investigated the heavy minerals of coastal sediments, economic prospect and potential placer mining for the extraction of beach sediments. The Cox’s Bazar has been considered as a good source of heavy minerals which has covered approximately 120 km area at the southeastern coast of Bangladesh. The present study includes several deposition points, such as Kutubdia, Dhalghata, Sonadia, Diabetes Point, Sunny Beach Point, Laboni Point, Sughandha, Kolatoli, Doria Nagar, Himchori, Inani, Patuartek, across over the north to south Cox’s Bazar Sea beach. Physical separation technique (density, magnetic, and electric) was used to separate heavy minerals from beach sediments. In total coastal areas, the beaches of Inani, Sugandha, Sonadia, Teknaf, and Laboni points have deposited a higher portion of heavy mineral which is around 46%. The investigation has identified as many as 19 varieties of heavy minerals in collected samples from different areas of the beach. Some of them are Ilmenite, Kyanite, Garnet, Rutile, Zircon, Magnetite, Augite, Hornblende, Enstatite, Epidote, Andalusite, Hypersthene, Diopside, and Cassiterite. However, Ilmenite, Zircon, Garnet, Rutile, Magnetite, and Topaz (Silica) were found in higher quantity overall the areas. A placer mining method for extraction has been recommended based on heavy mineral content, ocean wave direction, sedimentation rate, and equipment cost estimation.

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(Source: BSMEC). b Zircon [Z] and Monazite [M] from scanning electron microscope (Rajib & Oguchi, 2020). c Raw sand under scanning electron microscope where R (Rutile), M (Magnetite), Z (Zircon), G (Garnet), I (Ilmenite), Q (Quartz). d Surface feature of Ilmenite under scanning electron microscope

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Beach Sand Minerals Exploitation Centre, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Kalatoli, Cox's Bazar-4700, Bangladesh, and the Energy Conversion Laboratory, Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore-7408, Bangladesh, for providing us with laboratory assistance in analyzing beach sand samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh

    Mohammad Tofayal Ahmed, Minhaj Uddin Monir, Yeasir Hasan, Mohammad Forrukh Hossain Khan, Faysal Ahamed Akash & Shaik Muntasir Shovon

  2. Energy Conversion Laboratory, Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh

    Mohammad Tofayal Ahmed, Minhaj Uddin Monir & Mohammad Forrukh Hossain Khan

  3. Institute of Nuclear Minerals, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Ganakbari, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh

    Mohammad Rajib

  4. Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management (ESDM), Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Ashulia, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh

    Mohammad Rajib

  5. Department of Applied Science, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Moylish, Limerick, V94 EC5T, Ireland

    Shaheen M. Sarkar

  6. Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Chowdhury Quamruzzaman

  7. Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Gambang, 26300, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Azrina Abd Aziz

  8. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh

    Nazmul Hossain

  9. Beach Sand Minerals Exploitation Centre, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Kalatoli, Cox’s Bazar, 4700, Bangladesh

    Fahad Hossain

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  1. Mohammad Tofayal Ahmed
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Contributions

Conceptualization and Methodology: MTA, MUM and MR; Formal analysis, data collection, and investigation: MTA, MUM, MR, SMS and YH; Writing—original draft preparation: MTA, MUM, MR; Writing—review and editing: CQ, AAA, MFHK, NH, FH, FAA, SMS; Supervision: MUM and MTA; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mohammad Tofayal Ahmed or Minhaj Uddin Monir.

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Communicated by M. V. Alves Martins

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Ahmed, M.T., Monir, M.U., Rajib, M. et al. Heavy minerals identification and extraction along coastal sediments using placer mining technique. J. Sediment. Environ. 8, 81–95 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-022-00120-8

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