Potential of Some Granites from Foumban (West Region of Cameroon) as Fluxing Materials for Ceramics

Abstract

This study focuses on the mineralogical, geochemical and petrographic characterization of three granite rock samples (LTP, LTS and LTMB) from Foumban, West Region of Cameroon. Fusibility tests were carried out on the samples containing the highest amount of alkali to assess the potential of these materials as fluxing admixture for ceramics. The results show that the granite consists of alkaline feldspars, notably orthoclase and microcline of perthitic micro-texture, plagioclases (in particular albite) and also mafic minerals such as amphibole and pyroxene. The quantity of alkali in the samples is quite high (16.83% for LTS, 17.08% for LTMB and 18.87% for LTP) compared to standard data. Fusibility tests carried out on the samples having the highest alkali content (LTMB and LTP) showed that the vitreous phase appears between 1050˚C and 1100˚C in these samples when they were heated. The Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 content of LTMB (3.01% and 1.49% respectively) led to a brown colour of its fired product. Therefore, based on their composition, these materials can be used as feldspathic fluxes for the formulation of ceramic products.