ISSN: 2157-7617

Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
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  • Research Article   
  • J Earth Sci Clim Change 2015, Vol 6(9): 308
  • DOI: 10.4172/2157-7617.1000308

The Application of Cretaceous Clay Minerals of Mjez El Beb (North-Western Tunisia) in Ceramic Industry

Hammami-Ben Zaied Faten1*, Sghaier Dalel1, Slim-Shimi Najet1 and Henchiri Mohsen2
1Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis University, Campus 2092, El Manar, Tunisia
2Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, , Sidi Ahmed Zarrouk, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
*Corresponding Author : Hammami-Ben Zaied Faten, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis University, Campus 2092, El Manar, Tunisia

Received Date: Sep 07, 2015 / Accepted Date: Oct 06, 2015 / Published Date: Oct 16, 2015

Abstract

The Cretaceous clays of north-western Tunisia have been studied for their use in the traditional ceramic industry (bricks, tiles and pottery). Mineralogical, chemical, thermal analyses, technological proprieties and grain size distribution were carried out on clay samples collected from Jebel El Moura (BM section) and kef Lasfar-Oued El Jebs (MK section) in the locality of Mjez el Beb. The results showed that these clay minerals are represented mainly by kaolinite associated with illite and smectite. Quartz, calcite, feldspars and hematite were also detected as accessory minerals in the whole rock. The amount silica is convenient for the manufacture of ceramic products. So the prepared mixtures were made without admixture of any variety of silicate. The technology tests revealed that the modelled products had small shrinkage during drying and firing, and a high bending strength. For this reason, the clay mixtures were made without admixture of quartz or any other component. As a result, Mjez el Beb clays have high qualities necessary for the manufacture of tiles and ceramic bricks.

Keywords: Ceramic industry; Clays; Cretaceous; Jebel el Moura; North-western of Tunisia; Technology tests

Citation: Faten HBZ, Dalel S, Najet SS, Mohsen H (2015) The Application of Cretaceous Clay Minerals of Mjez El Beb (North-Western Tunisia) in Ceramic Industry. J Earth Sci Clim Change 6(9): 308. Doi: 10.4172/2157-7617.1000308

Copyright: © 2015 Faten HBZ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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