ASSESSMENT OF THE REFRACTORY AND PLASTIC PROPERTIES OF CLAY MINERAL DEPOSITS IN UHONMORA, OWAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN EDO STATE , NIGERIA

In order to assess the plastic and thermal behaviour of the clay mineral deposits at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria, the chemical, mineralogical and physical properties were evaluated. The results of the study showed that the deposits consisted of phyllosilicate minerals such as kaolinite, illite and clinochlore; other mineral present were quartz, sanidine high, geonalite, diaspore and and lepidocrocite. The clay minerals exhibited moderate swelling characteristics and medium plasticity; the linear shrinkage and apparent porosity were within the accepted values for refractory clays. It is reddish-brown colour on account of the presence of coloured iron mineral lepidocrocite. The clay minerals also exhibited good thermal shock resistance and refractoriness above 1200oC. The properties of the clay mineral deposits were reflection of the combined effects of the properties of the clay minerals and other non-clay mineral constituents. The study revealed that the clay mineral deposits studied had good refractory characteristics and can be used at operating temperature conditions above 1200oC.