Clay occurrences at Okija, Ubiaja and Iyuku in southern Nigeria were characterized geochemically, mineralogically as well as geotechnically in order to evaluate their industrial potentials. Mineralogical analyses portray kaolinite as the dominant clay mineral with traces of illite in the transported Okija and Ubiaja samples. Geotechnically, the in-situ derived Iyuku clay has distinctive characteristics. It is considerably less plastic, non-expansive, less hydrophilic and of low compressibility due to its lower clay fraction and higher crystallinity of available kaolinites. On the other hand, the Okija and Ubiaja clays are characterized by medium to high plasticity and compressibility. The shrinkage characteristics of the clays as well as their colloidal activities are consistent with their plasticity.Evaluation of the industrial potential of the clays based on their physical, chemical and geotechnical characteristics revealed that they are suitable for the production of refractory bricks and ceramics. Appropriate processing/beneficiation would be mandatory if they are to qualify for other industrial applications, such as rubber, paper, paint and cosmetic industries.

The sedimentary rock in the Auchi area of Edo State constitutes part of the Upper Cretaceous Deposits of the Anambra Basin, which has its  depocentre in Eastern Nigeria. Lithostratigraphic and Sedimentological studies carried out on twenty eight (28) selected samples from a section of a road–cut show that the sediments range from fine through medium to coarse grained. Sorting is poor to moderate. Grain size analysis shows that the sediments are strongly fine skewed and they exhibit mesokurtic to platykurtic kurtosis. These coupled with the various colours observed in the sediment, ranging from whitish sand through yellowish brown, pink and reddish brown possibly indicate a non–marine environment and a fluviatile to deltaic environment of sedimentation is suggested. The sediments might have been transported in a fairly high energy medium and deposited under a slightly fluctuating velocity. Keywords: Sedimentology, Cretaceous, Paleogeography, Grain size, Anambra Basin

The Upper Cretaceous Deposits of the Anambra Basin has a part of its sedimentary rock deposited in the Auchi area of Edo State. Geologic field and Sedimentological studies carried out on twenty eight (28) selected samples from a section of a road–cut show that the sediments range from fine through medium to coarse grained. Morphoscopic studies reveal subangular to subrounded outline of sand particles. These coupled with the  various colours observed in the sediment, ranging from whitish sand through yellowish brown, pink and reddish brown possibly indicate a non–marine environment and a fluviatile to deltaic environment of sedimentation is suggested. Heavy mineral assemblage made up mainly of opaque, andalusite, zircon, hornblend, sphene and epidote suggest derivation from the Precambrian Igneous and medium to high grade metamorphic rocks of the underlying Basement Complex of Nigeria. Keywords: Sedimentology, Cretaceous, Morphoscopic, Heavy Mineral, Provenance

Twenty four (24) coal samples from the eight (8) working collieries of Northumberland coalfield, England, have been studied with the view to analyzing the possible location/concentration of the mineral species in coals. The results of the study showed that their clay mineral suites dominated by kaolinitic types are disseminated products at maceral boundaries, desiccation cracks and at times fissures with no established genetic evidence. The other widespread variety of mineral occurrences, notably calcite, siderite and sometime pyrite in the coal basin and traceable to precipitates in various joints, cleats, cell voids and lumens are associated/formed during epigenetic mineralization episode (post depositional phase), when the macerals have differentiated into their various entities. More importantly, these mineral concentration appears to have been partly or wholly controlled by the semifusinite/fusinite macerals (i.e. particularly those exhibiting "Bogenstruktur") as the preferred traps and/or infills for coals. With the exception of the nodular pyrite that is said to be linked to both vitrinitic and sometimes liptinitic macerals and are traceable to syngenetic mineralization episodes, the euhedral type pyrite demonstrates a complete unique behaviour by their infill of semifusinite/fusinite macerals which suggests the timing to be of post-depositional phase.