Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Clayey Deposits for Traditional Pottery and Brickworks in the North West Region of Cameroon (Central Africa)
S. L. Wouatong Armand *
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Tchounang Kouonang Serge
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon and Local Materials Promotion Authority (MIPROMALO), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde, P.O.Box 2396 Yaounde, Cameroon
Hawa Mohamed
Local Materials Promotion Authority (MIPROMALO), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde, P.O.Box 2396 Yaounde, Cameroon
Yerima K. P. Bernard
Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 222 Dschang Cameroon.
Melo Chinje Uphie
Local Materials Promotion Authority (MIPROMALO), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde, P.O.Box 2396 Yaounde, Cameroon
Njopwouo Daniel
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O.Box 812, Cameroon
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Prospection and characterization studies carried out in the Bamessing area (Nord-West region of Cameroon) has revealed the presence of heterogeneous clayey materials along the lower slopes of Sabga Hill (1240-1320 m altitude) and the upper limits of Ndop plain (approximately 1200 m altitude). Clayey materials identified are dark-grey (on the hill), grey (within the plain) and yellowish (on both the hill and the plain) in color. Raw materials were deposited in the Pan African base. The major phases are kaolinite, illite, hydroxyl-interlayered Na-smectite, chlorite, quartz, gibbsite and goethite. The main clay minerals are composed of kaolinite, illite, hydroxyl-interlayered smectite and chlorite. The whole-rock chemical composition is characterized by silica (< 47 to 66% SiO2), alumina (15 to 20% Al2O3) and iron (3 to 5% Fe2O3). Mineralogical and geochemical properties of the materials presented and discussed in this work indicate that the clayey materials of the Bamessing area have a good potential for manufacture of pottery, bricks and tiles.
Keywords: Clayey materials, kaolinite, illite, hydroxyl-interlayered Na-smectite, chlorite Bamessing, Ndop-plain, Cameroon