Compositional Features and Functional Industrial Applications of the Lateritic Clay Deposits in Oye-Ekiti and Environs, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Geochemical characteristics and industrial suitability of lateritic clay occurrences in Ire and Ishan areas of Oye-Ekiti are investigated and reported. Systematic geologic mapping revealed that gneiss, granite and charnockite constitute the basement rocks of the area. Intensive chemical weathering of these rocks resulted in the formation of the two residual clay deposits. The clays were subjected to mineralogical determinations (using X-ray diffraction) and geochemical analysis (using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry) in Activation Laboratories, Ontario Canada with a view to determining physicochemical features that relates to industrial suitability of the clay.

Mineralogical determination indicates that kaolinite is the dominant clay mineral, illite occur in traces while quartz occur as the non-clay impurities. Analytical result shows dominance of SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and K₂O in the clays. Average SiO₂ value of the Ire and Ishan clays are 52.50%, and 55.41% respectively. Similarly, mean Al₂O₃ values are 33.17% and 24.80% while K₂O values are 4.30% and 6.29% respectively. The chemical composition of the clays is comparable to other notable in situ clay occurrences within Nigeria.

Assessment of the industrial suitability of the clays based on physicochemical parameters and consistency limits indicate the clays are inorganic and are adequately mouldable with moderate plasticity. The thermal characteristics and water absorption capacities of the clays are within the range recommended for some industrial specifications. The deposits could serve as raw materials for brick making, structural wares, pottery and ceramics.