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Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon): Mineralogical and physicochemical characterization for use in ceramic products

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Nkalih Mefire ,
A. Njoya ,
R. Yongue Fouateu ,
J.R. Mache ,
N.A. Tapon ,
A. Nzeukou Nzeugang ,
U. Melo Chinje ,
P. Pilate ,
P. Flament  and
S. Siniapkine
...Show all authors
A. Nkalih Mefire*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Clays, Geochemistry and Sedimentary Environments, Department of Geology, University of Liège, Quartier Agora, 14 Allée du 6 Août, Bât. B18, Sart Tilman - 4000, Liège, Belgium Laboratory of Applied Geology-Metallogeny, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
A. Njoya
Affiliation:
Fine Arts Institute of Foumban, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 31, Foumban, Cameroon
R. Yongue Fouateu
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Applied Geology-Metallogeny, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
J.R. Mache
Affiliation:
Local Material Promotion Authority, P.O. Box, 2396 Yaoundé, Cameroon
N.A. Tapon
Affiliation:
Architecture, Geology, Environment and Construction, Sart Tilman Chemin des Chevreuils (B52), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
A. Nzeukou Nzeugang
Affiliation:
Local Material Promotion Authority, P.O. Box, 2396 Yaoundé, Cameroon
U. Melo Chinje
Affiliation:
Local Material Promotion Authority, P.O. Box, 2396 Yaoundé, Cameroon
P. Pilate
Affiliation:
Belgian Ceramic Research Center, 4, Avenue Gouverneur Cornez - B-7000 Mons, Belgium
P. Flament
Affiliation:
Belgian Ceramic Research Center, 4, Avenue Gouverneur Cornez - B-7000 Mons, Belgium
S. Siniapkine
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Clays, Geochemistry and Sedimentary Environments, Department of Geology, University of Liège, Quartier Agora, 14 Allée du 6 Août, Bât. B18, Sart Tilman - 4000, Liège, Belgium
A. Ngono
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Applied Geology-Metallogeny, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
N. Fagel
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Clays, Geochemistry and Sedimentary Environments, Department of Geology, University of Liège, Quartier Agora, 14 Allée du 6 Août, Bât. B18, Sart Tilman - 4000, Liège, Belgium
*
*Email: Abiba.NkalihMefire@doct.ulg.ac.be
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Abstract

Thirty clay samples collected from three hills in Koutaba (west Cameroon) were characterized in order to evaluate their potential use as raw materials for ceramics. After preliminary mineralogical identification by X-ray diffraction, three representative samples from the three different hills, referred to hereafter as K1M, K2M and K3M, were selected for further investigation by X-ray fluorescence, plasticity, granularity and thermogravimetric analysis. The main clay minerals are kaolinite (32–51%) and illite (up to 12%). Additional major phases are quartz (32–52%), goethite (6–7%) and feldspars (0–4%). The chemical composition showed variable amounts of SiO2 (60–72%), Al2O3 (15–20%) and Fe2O3 (1–9%), in accordance with the quartz abundance in all of the samples studied. The particle-size distribution showed a large proportion of silty fraction (64–88%) with moderate sandy (9–19%) and clayey fractions ( < 5% for K2M, 12% for K1M and 20% for K3M). All of the clays showed moderate plasticity-index values (8–11%). Because of these characteristics, K1M and K3M may be suitable for use in common bricks and hollow ceramic products. Sieving or the addition of ball clays is recommended to increase the plasticity of sample K2M for use in common bricks.

Keywords

kaolinclaysmineralogythermal propertiesgeotechnical propertiesceramicsCameroon
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 50 , Issue 5 , December 2015 , pp. 593 - 606
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2015

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