Characterization of Yemeni Natural Zeolite (Al-Ahyuq Area) and its Environment Applications: A Review

This research characterizes a natural zeolitic-rich tuff from Yemen (Al-Ahyuq area) and its potential in environmental applications. A total of 40 zeolite samples of Al-Ahyuq area were selected and fully characterized by a variety technique to obtain the mineralogical and physicochemical parameters. Our results show that the purities of zeolite minerals range from 78 to ~100% zeolite. Clinoptilolite and mordenite are the major mineral zeolite whereas heulandite and stilbite occur in minor amounts present in the zeolite deposit. Accessory minerals include quartz, illite, mica, feldspar, kaolinite, and smectite. In addition, the chemical compositions of Al-Ahyuq zeolitic tuffs are found to be comparable with other zeolites compositions of high economic value in the world. Moreover, its environment application was also discussed in this paper.