GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY IN BENIN BYPASS ROAD

ABSTRACT

Five samples were collected at different location at BENIN BY PASS ROAD TO ABRAKA ROAD at Obadolovbyeyi Quarry site. And analysis was carried out at National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) Kaduna, Nigeria. The sedimentary clays at BENIN BY PASS ROAD TO ABRAKA ROAD at Obadolovbyeyi Quarry site was studied to determine the Geochemical Characteristics of Clays by XRF. The nature of the clay is found to be kaolin, having more SiO2 and Al2O3 present. Abundances of major elemental oxides show the Average of SiO2 (53.13) and Al2O3 (34.28 %) in sedimentary clay. The high content of SiO2 shows that the source rocks are rich in quartz and silica-rich minerals confirming the grittiness of the clay. Other oxides present are relatively very small. The occurrences of CaO and K2O which are the major components of feldspar in clay suggest that the clay is granitic in origin. The absence of MgO is indicative that there was little or no Chemical Process which is associated with dolomitization. Fe2O3 was found to be High this could be as a result of High level of percolations of ferric water trickling down from ferrogenous sand overlying the clay deposits. The trace elements such as Mg, Zn, Fe and Cu. Zn as an Average of (0.01). Fe is an Average of 2.71, while Cu as an Average of 0.04.The Depletion of Zn in the sample could be as a result of low presence of ferromagnesian silicates and detrital oxides such as magnetite, Carbonate rocks and quartzo-feldspathic sand. Zinc is readily adsorbed onto ferric oxides and silicate mineral by the substitution of Fe and Mg both of which as similar ironic radii to Zn.