Elemental Analysis of Some Geophagic Soils of Hagar Sari Area Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Technique

Abstract

Fifteen samples of soil lick were collected from HagarSari surroundings at Northern Darfur and analyzed for elemental composition. Inductively coupled plasma technique was used. The results show that the mean percentage mineral contents were as follow: Aluminum (1.968%), Iron (1.707%), Potassium (0.40%), Sodium (0.1679%), Calcium (0.1680%), Magnesium (8.6×10-2%), Manganese (0.24×10-2%),Bbarium (0.0117%), Vanadium (0.573×10-2%), Chromium (0.51×10-2%), Strontium (0.47×10-2%), Zinc (0.253×10-2%), Copper (0.132×10-2%),Lead (0.235×10-2%), andMolybdenum and Nickel showed significantly low concentrations (0.044×10-2%, 0.0435×10-2% respectively). Silver and Cobalt were not detected. Surprisingly, Aluminum and Iron were mostabundant instead of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium which are normally considered to be the essential animal attractants, because they normally showed higher concentration in the licked soil samples almost in all studies concerned with this field for so many years in different countries.