HEAVY METAL ASSESSMENT OF PHOSPHOGYPSUM WASTE STOCKPILE MATERIAL FROM JORDAN 1 Al-Hwaiti, M. 2 , V. Carney, J. F. Ranville, and P. E. Ross Abstract: Phosphogypsum is a waste by-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry. The phosphate industry in Jordan has generated over 40 million tons of this waste material. Production continues at the rate of 3 million tons per year. The toxic heavy metal elements present in the by-product phosphogypsum and their effect on the human health and environment has prompted this study. The present study investigates potential toxic elements in phosphogypsum waste material from the Aqaba and Eshidiya fertilizer plants. Study parameters include concentrations and bioavailability of toxic elements, particle microstructure (SEM and XRD). Other variables considered include origin of deposit, age of deposit, particle size fraction and basic physico-chemical parameters. The results are used to determine the toxic element concentrations of phosphogypsum as well as to assess the impact of heavy metals that may pose a potential hazard to the human health and the environment from the two study sites. Additional Key Words : heavy metals, distribution, phosphogypsum, bioavailability, Jordan ________________________________ 1 Paper was presented at the 2005 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, June 19-23, 2005. Published by ASMR, 3134 Montavesta Rd., Lexington, KY 40502 2 Mohammad Al-Hwaiti, Exploration Manager, Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, PO Box (30) Amman 11118, Jordan. Email: mohhwaiti@yahoo.com . Current address: Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401. email: malhwait@mines.edu ; Vanessa Carney, Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 (will present the paper), e-mail: geogirl622@aol.com ; James F. Ranville, Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, e-mail: jranvill@mines.edu ; Philippe Ross, Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, e-mail: pross@mines.edu .