Article (Scientific journals)
Mineralogical and geochimical features of Foumban clays deposits (West-Cameroon): genesis and Potential Applications
Nkalih Mefire, Abiba; YONGUE, Rose Fouateu; NJOYA, André et al.
2018In Clay Minerals, 53 (3), p. 431-445
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Keywords :
common clays, mineralogy, geochemistry, ceramic, Foumban, Cameroon
Abstract :
[en] Common clay deposits from five localities in Foumban (West Cameroon) were investigated for their morphological, mineralogical and geochemical properties to determine their potential source rocks and suitability in ceramic product. The analytical results were obtained by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. Morphologically, an homogeneous clayey layer was found in the upper part of a laterite cover on interfluves, and a clayey heterogeneous hydromorphic material in valleys. They are minerallogically composed of kaolinite (25-84%), illite (0-18%), smectite (0- 31%), and chlorite (0-8 %), associated with quartz (2-44 %), K-feldspars (0-27 %.), plagioclase (0-26%), goethite; (0-9%) with traces of rutile and hematite (≤5 %). The geochemical analysis shows a 115 relative large amount of SiO2 (45-71%), Al2O3 (14-31%), and low Fe2O3 (up to 11 %) suggesting weathering of mainly granitic and rhyolitic parent rocks. Most studied clays could be applied to building ceramic product such as bricks (refractory or not) and tiles. Illite may promote the glassy phase responsible for the densification of the final product. In addition, the relatively high proportion of alkali elements (K2O + Na2O, 6-8%) in some samples from Marom, Koutaba and is responsible for low firing temperature. However the presence of smectite (up to 5 %) limits the application of some Koutaba and Marom clays for ceramic building. The high Fe2O3 contents (> 8 %) in some Bangourain clays implied some pretreatment.
Research center :
AGEs
Geology - GEOLOGY
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Nkalih Mefire, Abiba ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Géologie > AGEs > Doct. sc. (géol. - paysage)
YONGUE, Rose Fouateu;  Université de Yaoundé I > Géologie > Géologie Appliquée-Métallogénie
NJOYA, André;  Université de Dschang > Institut des Beaux Arts de Foumban
MACHE, Jacques Richard;  Mission de Promotion des Matériaux Locaux
Pilate, Pascal;  Belgian Ceramic Research Center (INISMa-CRIBC) 4, Avenue Gouverneur Cornez, Mons, B-7000, Belgium
Hatert, Frédéric  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Minéralogie et cristallochimie
Fagel, Nathalie  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Argiles, géochimie et environnements sédimentaires
Language :
English
Title :
Mineralogical and geochimical features of Foumban clays deposits (West-Cameroon): genesis and Potential Applications
Publication date :
2018
Journal title :
Clay Minerals
ISSN :
0009-8558
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press
Volume :
53
Issue :
3
Pages :
431-445
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
Caractérisation et valorisation des argiles de Foumban (Ouest-Cameroun)
Funders :
ARES - Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 02 February 2017

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