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Department of Arid and Desert Areas Management, Faculty of Desert studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran , ara338@semnan.ac.ir
Abstract: (516 Views)
1- Introduction
Desertification and dust storms are among the most important environmental challenges in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. These phenomena not only affect natural ecosystems, but also have extensive social, economic, and health consequences. Iran, being located in the world's desert belt and having a predominantly arid and semi-arid climate, is constantly exposed to these challenges. One of the important aspects in the study of dust is to understand the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of these particles, since determining the composition of dust can play a significant role in identifying emission sources and providing control solutions. The global dust cycle includes three stages: separation of particles from the surface, their transport in the atmosphere, and finally settling and deposition, each of which can affect the properties of the particles. In Iran, over the past two decades, the intensity and frequency of dust storms have increased significantly, so that in 2008, eighteen provinces of the country were affected by this phenomenon. This highlights the need for extensive and detailed research on the sources, characteristics, and consequences of dust. One of the important sources of dust production is geological formations, which, with their specific mineralogical composition, determine the rate of dust erosion and production. Today, the study of chemical and physical indices of dust and dust has gained great importance as the basis for geobiochemical studies of dust storms. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the chemical characteristics of dust and its relationship with geological formations in the south of Damghan County.
2- Methodology
This study was conducted to investigate the genetic relationship between dust and geological formations in the southern Damghan region. Dust samples were collected in Esfand 2023 and Farvardin 2024 from 9 stations using funnel-shaped samplers at a height of 2-4 meters. The chemical compositions of the particles were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), mineral identification with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and particle morphology with a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). Geological data were extracted from 1:100,000 maps of the Geological Survey and evaluated through cluster analysis and statistical modeling (SPSS). Soil samples were also collected from a depth of 20-50 cm.
3- Results
The results showed that according to the cluster diagram, the geological formation and dust of southern Damghan at stations 2, 5, 6, and 8 have a close genetic relationship with the geological formation qc, as a result of which all stations are located in cluster number one, and also in cluster number two, four stations 3, 7, 9, and 4 have a similar genetic relationship with the geological formations Qal, Qsg, Qt2 and Qs2. Calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) are the dominant elements in dust that originate from evaporative and geological sources (clay formations Qc and alluvial sediments Qal). Cluster analysis divided the stations into two groups: Cluster 1 (stations 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8) related to clay sediments and Cluster 2 (stations 3, 7, 9) related to sandy and alluvial formations. High arsenic (As) concentrations near industrial areas (such as a ferroalloy plant) indicated the role of human activities in the pollution. Silt-sized particles (less than 10 microns) were dominant, with a tendency towards finer particles during dust storms. This study suggests that Quaternary formations (especially Qt2 and Qs2) play a key role in dust generation due to their high erodibility.
4- Discussion & Conclusions
Geochemical studies of elements and unusual concentrations of some chemical elements (Ca, Fe, Al, Na, As) in the region show that human sources such as coal mine pollution, active industries, chemical and non-chemical industrial wastewater (such as Damghan Industrial Park) and agricultural pesticides play an important role in increasing these pollutants. Also, regarding the role of geological formations as land sources of pollution, due to differences in lithological outcrops such as sandstone, coal shales, and clay stones, uneven erosion has occurred and has been effective in sediment production and sedimentation. It can be said that the geological structure and geological formations of the region are important and effective factors in sediment production and erosion. It is suggested that the aforementioned research be carried out at the level of the entire province, considering the importance of the issue and the dust conditions of Semnan province. It is also suggested that researchers and students conduct research on the chemical elements present in the dust of the region and their role in causing some diseases. Another point is that appropriate solutions should be identified to reduce the factors underlying desertification based on dust in different regions of the country. It is also suggested that studies be conducted to investigate the origin of dust in relation to human factors in the region. Finally, the limitations of the research include the lack of complete access to the region due to the lack of suitable roads and the difficulty of sampling due to strong winds.
Received: 2025/03/18
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