Physico-Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Two Clay Materials of the Far North Region of Cameroon (Makabaye, Maroua)

Abstract

To contribute to the valorization of local materials, the physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of two clay materials MJ and MN collected in the Mayo Tsanaga river which crosses the Makabaye district of Maroua (Cameroon) was carried out. For this purpose, various methods of characterization have been used, namely granulometric analysis, Atterberg limits, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. It is apparent from the granulometry that the clay materials studied titrate 33.77% of clays for MJ against 44.13% for MN. The plasticity indices Ip with values IpMJ = 19.27% and IpMN = 23.4% place the materials in the plastic domain and offer them the possibility to being shaped into objects. The chemical composition of the MJ and MN materials reveals that the silicon oxide SiO2, the aluminumoxide Al2O3 and iron oxide Fe2O3 are their main constituents. The X-ray diffraction of the MJ and MN materials shows that they consist mainly of quartz with associated kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, perlialite, dickite, nacrite, amesite, albite, brookite and anorthite. In addition to these, 2/1 minerals such as muscovite, nontronite, glauconite, and phlogopite are also identified in the MJ material. The peaks of sanidine, microcline and gismondine are also found in the MN material. The materials being rich in clay minerals 2/1 can be valorized in the adsorption and the absorption of the oils and greases and in the waterproofing of the grounds. The presence of quartz, kaolinite and illite is undoubtedly favorable for the manufacture of ceramic products in terracotta. These products will be obtained at a relatively lower temperature due to illite, feldspars and iron minerals that provide vitrification during firing by forming eutectics. The aluminosilicate amorphous phases contained in the studied materials can be exploited to produce geopolymer cements and concretes.