To contribute to the valorization of local materials, the
physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of two clay materials MJ
and MN collected in the Mayo Tsanaga river which crosses the Makabaye district
of Maroua (Cameroon) was carried out. For this purpose, various methods of
characterization have been used, namely granulometric analysis, Atterberg
limits, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. It is apparent
from the granulometry that the clay materials studied titrate 33.77% of clays
for MJ against 44.13% for MN. The plasticity indices Ip with values IpMJ = 19.27% and IpMN = 23.4% place the materials in the plastic domain
and offer them the possibility to being shaped into objects. The chemical
composition of the MJ and MN materials reveals that the silicon oxide SiO2,
the aluminumoxide Al2O3 and iron oxide Fe2O3 are their main constituents. The X-ray diffraction of the MJ and MN materials
shows that they consist mainly of quartz with associated kaolinite, illite,
montmorillonite, perlialite, dickite, nacrite, amesite, albite, brookite and
anorthite. In addition to these, 2/1 minerals such as muscovite, nontronite,
glauconite, and phlogopite are also identified in the MJ material. The peaks of
sanidine, microcline and gismondine are also found in the MN material. The
materials being rich in clay minerals 2/1 can be valorized in the adsorption
and the absorption of the oils and greases and in the waterproofing of the
grounds. The presence of quartz, kaolinite and illite is undoubtedly favorable for the manufacture of ceramic products in terracotta.
These products will be obtained at a relatively lower temperature due to
illite, feldspars and iron minerals that provide vitrification during firing by
forming eutectics. The aluminosilicate amorphous phases contained in the
studied materials can be exploited to produce geopolymer cements and concretes.
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