ABSTRACT
This study investigates five clay samples obtained from the Imo Formation in Okada community. Preliminary assessments encompassed property testing and elemental analysis, integrating X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The XRF analysis revealed the highest content of Silica (SiO2) at 56.79 wt.%, with MgO registering the lowest at 0.14 wt.%. Other oxides included Al2O3 (18.79 wt.%), Fe2O3 (8.95 wt.%), CaO (8.04 wt.%), and minor amounts of K2O (1.87 wt.%), P2O5 (1.11 wt.%), and TiO2 (1.68 wt.%). Trace elements Ni, Ag, Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn were uniformly detected in all samples. XRD analysis indicated quartz as the dominant mineral in the clay samples, accompanied by subordinate quantities of muscovite, orthoclase, and montmorillonite. Additionally, Locations 1, 2, and 3 exhibited kaolinite and illite, while Locations 4 and 5 revealed the presence of albite minerals. The prevalence of montmorillonite suggests classification as Bentonite Clay, known for its swelling properties. XRF further identified the samples as calcium bentonite, a low-swelling type originating from volcanic ash deposits in freshwater environments. This type exhibits enhanced strength due to heightened concentrations of calcium oxide (CaO) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3). These findings align with the typical mineralogical composition of calcium bentonite. Moreover, the relatively low levels of sodium oxide (Na2O) imply that the clay samples do not possess the high sodium content characteristic of sodium bentonite. The study concludes that the Okada clay samples serve as suitable raw materials for refractory bricks and drilling mud. However, their lower kaolinite content renders them unsuitable for rubber and paper production. This industrial conclusion was reached by comparing my clay samples to the standard industrial specification of clay by previous works.
