Mineralogical, Physicochemical and Morphological Characterization of Okpella Clay

Local clay mineral was mined from Okpella Town, Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Mineralogical characterization of the clay was carried out using X-ray diffraction analyzer. Chemical characterization of the clay was carried out using X-ray fluorescence analyzer and the pH analysis of the clay was carried out using pH meter. The mineralogical analysis revealed that the clay was majorly a dolomite mineral having 72% dolomite. The impurities present are 18% cristobalite, 4.1% garnet, 5% calcite and 1% quicklime. The pH analysis of the clay revealed that the clay was acidic having average pH value of 3.9. The pH determined for the 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:10 samples were 3.61, 3.85, 3.85, 4.05 and 4.09, respectively.