ABSTRACT

The clays which occur as intercalations within the sand bodies in Idogbo community (a part of the Benin Formation) were geochemically appraised. Five (05) clay samples were obtained from Obadoloivbiyeyi quarry, in Idogbo community. The samples were subjected to XRF analysis to determine their geochemical composition. The results obtained show the predomoinance SiO₂ (50.81wt% – 56.15wt) and Al₂O₃ (33.06wt% – 35.38wt%) and with minor occurences of Fe₂O₃ ­(3.42wt% – 5.09wt%), CaO (0.08wt% – 1.70wt%), TiO₂ (4.71wt% - 5.16%), K₂O (0.74wt% - 1.37wt%) and P₂O₅ with an average of 0.03%. The high high values of Al2O3 confirm the presence of kaolinites. The the ternary diagram of Nesbitt and Young (1984) confirm that the clays have undergone a high degree of weathering. The high values of silica in these clays emphasize its usefulness for refractories.