For the assessment of clay deposits for brick manufacturing, seven clay samples from different locations were collected by channel sampling method from Injana, Mukdadiyah, Bai Hassan formations and Quaternary deposits in Bestana village, the study area is located east of Erbil city (NE Iraq). For ceramic manufacturing, the quality of clay should be measured according to some physical properties. The mineralogical and geochemical study revealed by using X-ray diffraction and chemical characteristics, which represented that all clay samples containing; kaolinite, smectite, illite, and chlorite with some mixed clay and non-clay mineral quartz, calcite, dolomite, and feldspar. The physical properties of clay samples including grain size analysis and Atterberg limits showed that the raw materials contain clay in high proportion, silt in medium proportion, and sand in minor proportion. Plasticity index of the studied samples showed that they are moderately plastic to plastic range. The geochemical analysis of the studied samples showed that the clay raw materials are composed mainly of silica and alumina, which act as refractory material in the ceramic industry. In addition to that, there are different proportions of calcium, iron oxides, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, which are flux oxides.

Aggregates have an important role in the development and quality of Hot Mix Asphalt pavement, Engineers prefer using different types of acidic aggregates as a dominant road pavement mixture. This study is focused on using a basic aggregate, for this purpose limestone is used as a replacement to sandstone and gravel in the Hot Mix Asphalt for base and binder course, due to its rough, tough, durable and stable properties, that adheres well with the binder due to its hydrophobic properties. A petrographic study and chemical analysis by XRF method was carried out for better determining the mineralogical and chemical contents. Los Angeles Abrasion test carried out for measuring abrasion of the limestone aggregates in Kurdistan Region Iraq from Cretaceous-Tertiary age in different sources of the Shiranish Formation in Pirat, Harir, and Safin, Aqra-Bekhme in Shakrok, the Pila Spi Formation in Pirmam, Khurmala Formation in Safin, the Euphrates Formation in North Qarachugh, and the Qamchuqa Formation in Bana Bawi, while the only last four formations selected for Marshal test depending on wear <45% according to Iraqi SORB, 2003 standards. The soundness test results showed that the selected four samples are within the required specifications. The aggregate-asphalt mixture molds were prepared with the optimum binder content of 4.7%, for the Marshall stability test, which revealed that all the selected four samples are suitable as a heavy-duty pavestone for the base and binder course, with BQ and Pm showed optimum stability results.

Assessment of clay briquettes for various building applications take into consideration, for this purpose seven clay samples by channel method collected from Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan Formations with Quaternary deposits in Bestana village, for the evaluation test purpose, 84 rectangular briquettes (1x4x8 cm) were prepared by semi-dry (8%water) pressing method (250Kg/cm²), fired at 800, 900, 1000, 1080ºC, for the evaluation tests of color, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, efflorescence and modulus of rupture, and 28 cylindrical briquettes (4 cm height and diameter) were prepared for the evaluation test of compressive strength. The results showed that the color of the briquettes varied with different firing temperatures as a function of various mineralogical compositions. The dry sensitivity index measured for the studied ceramic briquettes, showed high dry sensitivity index, drying shrinkage and water content % values, due to this result they require low temperature drying for long periods by adding 7.96 to 13.54% water during briquette paste preparation. Comparing these evaluation test results with the International standard specifications for the ceramic industry No.25 (1988), 17 (1998), and C1167 (2003). This study showed the availability of using all of the studied samples in the brick industry, floor and wall tile industry, with Injana, Bai Hassan, and Quaternary deposits of Bestana village can be used in the roofing tile industry. Samples from Mukdadiyah and Bai Hassan Formations can be used as chemical resistant tiles when fired at 1080oC.