CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CLAY DEPOSITS IN TAAVAAN, NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

MALU S.P.¹, ANDREW C.², MALU F.I.^3
1Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University, P.M.B 1020, Wukari, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University, P.M.B 1020, Wukari, Nigeria.
³King's Peculiar College Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

Received : 06-11-2013     Accepted : 12-12-2013     Published : 24-12-2013
Volume : 1     Issue : 2       Pages : 31 - 34
World Res J Chem 1.2 (2013):31-34

Physico-chemical analysis was employed to characterized clay deposits from Taavaan, Benue State of Nigeria with the view to establish its suitability for industrial usage. The result of the analysis showed a chemical composition of 71.37% silica (SiO₂), alumina (Al₂O₃) 15.5%, iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) 5.6%, potassium oxide (K₂O) 2.4%, sodium oxide (Na₂O) 0.75%, magnesium oxide (MgO) 1.5%, calcium oxide (CaO) 0.86% and trace amount of SO₃ presence. Results of the physical analysis include shows a moderate plasticity 2.832kgF/cm², moderate shrinkage (i.e. wet-dry, dry-fired) of 4.0-4.8% and 9.60-10.80% respectively and a pH of 6.08 and were within accepted limits. On firing the clay sample, the colour ranged from gray to red. The ratio of SiO₂:Al₂O₃ calculated is > 1, hence the clay can be utilized in the synthesis of zeolite and due to its high silica content, and it can be used as source of silica for the production of floor tiles, bricks and stoneware production.