Investigation of Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characteristics of Share-Tsonga Claystones, Northern Bida Basin, Nigeria
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
FUOYE Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
Abstract
The claystones, with varieties of application, can be pivotal to boosting Nigerian economy. The Maastrichtian claystones of Enagi Formation at Share and Tshonga areas, Bida Basin, Nigeria were investigated to determine their mineralogy, geotechnical properties and their industrial applications. X-Ray diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine their mineralogy. The particle size distribution (PSD), Atterberg limits, permeability and firing characteristics were probed. The claystones contain mainly kaolinite (20%-22%) while the main non-clay mineral is quartz (45%-62%). Other minerals include plagioclase (2%-15%), mica (5-15%), anatase (3%), pyrite (2%) and ilmenite (3%). PSD shows that sand ranges from 22% to 43%, while the clay ranges from 14% to 34% and silt varies from 46 to 56%. The Share claystones are more clayey while the Tsonga’s are more sandy. The liquid limits, plastic limit, plastic indices and activity range from 43% to 71%, 17% to 31%, 25% to 40% and 0.6 to 2.0 respectively. The claystones have low to medium expansivity, and medium to high plasticity index which suggest suitability as attenuation layer. The Tsonga claystone has a higher coefficient of permeability of 5.826x 10-6cm/sec than Share’s (5.173x10-6cm/sec). The low permeability may suit the claystones as attenuation layer. The firing test shows presence of expansive clays and increased level of mobile iron-bearing minerals with grey to yellow colour. The study concludes that the claytones can be used in paper making, barrier lining, bricks, pottery and ceramics which can add to increasing resource base of Nigeria.