ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A MINERAL SAMPLE VIA SEM-EDS ANALYSIS

Good plant growth and high productivity largely depend on mineral fertilizers. Therefore, identifying new raw materials for the production of these fertilizers is crucial. The analysis of newly discovered minerals is essential to uncover their potential uses. In this study, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the elemental composition and surface morphology of a mineral sample. The sample was taken from the "Doutosh" mine, located on the southern border of Uzbekistan, at a depth of 30-35 meters. The topsoil layer was removed using specialized methods, allowing access to the ore for further analysis. The SEM-EDS analysis revealed that the main constituents of the mineral were oxygen (32.95%), manganese (27.77%), and chromium (9.97%), along with smaller amounts of carbon, silicon, calcium, iron, and other trace elements. The multi-elemental composition of the mineral was confirmed, with manganese and chromium being the primary contributors. These findings suggest that the mineral holds potential for industrial applications, particularly in the fields of materials science and metallurgy. Moreover, by studying the functional characteristics of the mineral and assessing its environmental impact, plans are being made to develop manganese-based fertilizers for plant growth using this mineral resource. This could serve as a new branch of the chemical industry in Uzbekistan.