COMPOSITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL ASSESSMENT OF CLAY AND SHALE

ABSTRACT

Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of clay/shale deposits in Nzugbe and its environs were investigated. The intent of the study was to determine the industrial potentials of the deposits. A total of eight (8) samples were collected for analyses from four (4) sampling points within the Anambra Basin. XRF and XRD method was used in both the geochemical and mineralogical studies. The results of the chemical analyses showed predominance of silica (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in all the clay/shale samples with % concentration that ranged from 42.2 – 57.29. This clearly defined the deposits as alumino-silicate. The results also showed that iron (ii) oxide (Fe203) occur in considerable amount with % concentration that ranged from 4.51 – 25.65. Other oxides identified in the samples include CaO, K2O and MgO. The deposits also contain high amounts of Vanadium manganese, iron, cobalt, calcium, potassium, titanium and aluminum which could be exploited for industrial purposes. The mineralogical analyses showed that quartz, orthoclase, clinochlore and albite commonly occur in all the samples. Other minerals that occur in the deposits include vermiculite, garnet, nacrite, kaolinite and illite. The chemical and mineralogical characteristics suggest that the deposits could be exploited for brick clay and as raw materials in paper, rubber, plastic, pharmaceutical and textile industries. However, on the bases of chemical composition, the clay/shale deposits would require blending with appropriate materials to improve its quality.