Chemical, Geotechnical and Mineralogical Characteristics of a Clay Mineral Deposit in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The solid mineral sector provides a viable alternative to expand the economic base of Nigeria which has an abundant clay deposit across  the country. The underutilization of clay deposits is in part either due to lack of characterization data for most sites or the absence of it. In  this work, the chemical, geotechnical and mineralogical characteristics of the clay mineral deposit at Lokoja, Kogi State were  evaluated. The results revealed that the deposit consists of: SiO₂ (21.75 - 38.15%), A1₂O₃ (18.49 - 21.65%), Na₂O (5.50 - 7.70%), Fe₂O₃(4.43- 7.89%), K₂O (2.3- 5.78%), CaO (0.56-1.01%), MgO(0.50- 1.00%), loss on ignition (7.40-10.00 %), and moisture content (3.40-  4.60%). The mineralogical studies revealed the presence of orthoclase, paraclesian and albite low as the feldspar minerals. The clay  minerals detected were Kaolinite, Halloysite 7A, lizardite aluminian, clinochiore IIb, vertumnite, lovdarite and corrensite. Other silicate and  siliceous carbonate minerals found were; wollastonite, paraspurrite and alumahydrocalcite. The three layers exhibited medium  plasticity, while the middle and bottom layers had refractoriness above 1200°C, and moderate thermal shock resistance, the top layer  exhibited refractoriness below 1200°C and low thermal shock resistance.