Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Clayey Deposits for Traditional Pottery and Brickworks in the North West Region of Cameroon (Central Africa)

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.