Physico-chemical and mineralogical properties of a clay mineral deposit, in Aseni Site II, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The clay mineral deposit in Aseni Site II Kogi State, Nigeria, was assessed for its chemical, physical and mineralogical composition. The chemical composition was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophometer (A.A.S),the physical properties were evaluated in accordance with the methods prescribed by the British Standard (BS1377) and the mineralogical assay was done using X-ray diffractometer. The results of the chemical assay were moisture content (1.20-2.2%), loss on ignition (6.40 - 9.30%), silica (35.04- 39.80%), alumina (20.08 -23.52%), sodium oxide (7.43 - 9.57%), potassium oxide (2.8.9 - 7.25%), ferric oxide (0.74- 1.83%), magnesium oxide (0.74-1.83), calcium oxide (0.85- 1.65%) and manganese dioxide (0.07-0.52). The mineralogical assay revealed the presence of K-feldspar minerals- orthoclase and sanidine high, while the dominant clay minerals were kaolinite, and chlorite clay minerals -clinochlore 11 b, clinochlore ferrian IIb and corrensite. Other minerals present were quartz, humite, ramsdellite and brucite. The clay had medium plasticity, The apparent porosity, air permeability bulk density and thermal shock resistance varied with depth. Whereas only the top layer had refractoriness above 1200°C, all the other three layers had refractoriness below 1200°C. The results of the study showed that the clay could be used in operations which do not require high thermal resistance.