Abstract

Three residual clay occurrences in Idi-Ayunre, and Akure areas which belong to the Precambrian basement complex of southwestern Nigeria were investigated for their mineralogical, chemical and industrial properties. The investigation was to evaluate their industrial applications and economic importance. The clay within the weathered profiles above banded gneiss at Idi-Ayunre is whitish with red spots, whereas the clays derived from profiles above porphyritic granite and granite gneiss in Akure are grayish and brown in color respectively.

The X-ray diffraction studies show that kaolinite is the dominant clay mineral, goethite, microcline, quartz, albite are the major non clay minerals in the samples. Chemical data showed that the average values of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ were 52.3. 30.29 and 3.54 wt% respectively constituting 86.13% of the bulk compositions.

Evaluation of the clay thermal characteristic, firing colour, water absorption capacities and shrinkage values show that the brownish Idi-Ayunre clay, gray and brown Akure kaolinitic clays could serve as raw materials for ceramics, building bricks, and other structural wares

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