Mineralogical and geotechnical characterization of clays from northern Morocco for their potential use in the ceramic industry

Abstract

This study focuses on the mineralogical and geotechnical characterization of northern Moroccan clays from the Tangier and Tetouan areas and compares them with the main clay deposits used in the Moroccan ceramic industry (from Meknes, Fes, Salé and Safi regions). Sampled clays were analysed by X-ray diffraction on bulk and clay (<2 μm) fractions to identify the mineralogical assemblages of the clay outcrops. Further analyses were conducted to determine the particle size distribution (laser diffraction particle analyser), the total organic matter content (Loss- On-Ignition measurements) and the Atterberg limits of the raw clays. The study aims at investigating the spatial variability of the clay samples and at evaluating their potential application as raw materials in the ceramic industry.Tetouan and Tangier clays are characterized by diversified mineralogical assemblages (in particular a variable proportion of clay, quartz and calcite) compared with the Meknes, Fes, Salé and Safi clays (high clay content, quartz and calcite). The clay fraction of the Tetouan and Tangier samples is dominated by illite and kaolinite with variable amounts of chlorite, smectite and/or vermiculite. Illite is the dominant phase in the Meknes, Fes, Safi and Salé clays, but is associated with kaolinite. No direct relationship between the mineral assemblage composition and the lithology of the series was found.The clays materials studied consist generally of fine particles with medium to high plasticity and low organic matter content. Due to their mineralogy, grain-size distribution and plasticity the clays appear to be suitable as raw material for the growing Morocco ceramic industry.

Characteristics and ceramic properties of clayey materials from Amezmiz region (Western High Atlas, Morocco)

“…Following the various characterizations carried out on the five samples, one of the objectives of this work is to determine the proportions of the used raw materials for the ideal composition. The obtained results were compared with a sample used as reference (REF clay), which is currently used as a raw material in ceramic manufacturing in Safi, one of the best known sites of ceramic in Morocco (Guerraoui et al, 2009;El Ouahabi et al 2014) …”

Avaliação do potencial de argilas de Sergipe e Alagoas na produção de agregados para uso em concreto

“…Os difratogramas mostraram que as argilas foram constituídas principalmente pelos argilominerais caulinita, ilita e α-quartzo como fases cristalinas. O argilomineral caulinita identificado na argila MA apresenta baixa plasticidade e elevada temperatura de fusão [29,30]. Adicionalmente, traço da argila montmorilonita foi identificado na argila PIN.…”

Changes in technological properties and microstructure of clayey raw materials from the Corumbataí Formation upon drying: Relevance to dry route tilemaking process

“…The presence of swelling clays in the rock increase the moisture content due to swelling and provide greater plasticity to the ceramic tiles, especially during shaping and drying (Singer and Singer, 1963;Reeves et al, 2006;Ouahabi et al, 2014). However, when the studied clays were exposed to those forced drying (100, 200 and 300°C) the swelling ability was inhibited causing silty/sandy-like behavior (i.e.…”

“…The growth in tiles production and high demand for clayey raw materials in the past years resulted in a number of studies focused on the characterization of clayey raw materials with potential application in ceramic industry (e.g. Dondi, 1999;Celik, 2010;Galos, 2011;Medhioub et al, 2012;Dondi et al, 2014;Gliozzo et al, 2014;Lahcen et al, 2014;Ouahabi et al, 2014;Oikonomopoulos et al, 2015). Characterization of clayey raw materials (mineralogy, chemistry and surface properties) and investigation of their behavior and changes in technological properties at elevated temperatures are essential to study in order to succeed in the ceramic business (Henry, 1952;Dondi et al, 2014).…”