2018 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 29-37
This study reports the geological and physicochemical characterization of Monoun plain alluvial clays. The field was profiled using an auger corer in three localities (Njimbet, Bangourain, Ngwenfon). The present results reveal good indices of alluvial clay deposits with thicknesses ranging from 0 to 620 centimeters and are made up of various facies. The clay samples were collected from six representative profiles at different localities and they indicated silty clay texture except NJB1_2 and BGR2_2, i.e., a sandy clay texture. In all sample, quartz, kaolinite, goethite, illite and chlorite are the major minerals, while gibbsite, hematite, anatase, and K-feldspar are the minor minerals. Chemical analysis revealed the silico–aluminous character of samples with various iron products (1%<Fe2O3<14%) and small alkali and alkaline earth oxides (0%<Na2O+K2O+CaO+MgO <3%). The physical parameters of alluvial clays exhibit a wide spread granulometry (gravel: 0.0–6.3%; sand: 19.6–79.5%; silt: 12.4–67.4% and clay: 1.5–49.0%) with relatively high plastic index (11–49%). The comparison of Monoun alluvial clay with the others alluvial clays in the country and European clay used in ceramic production indicated similarities in mineralogy, chemical and grain size composition. The reference diagrams of classification of raw clay material for ceramic production also confirm that these alluvial clays can be used in structural ceramics like red stoneware tiles, tiles, roofing tiles, firing bricks and pottery.
