Geochemical properties of kaolin deposits in the Central Region, Ghana: A multivariate statistical approach release_l33xodz3xbd5hjgqrloozfap54

by Samuel Obiri, David Kofi Essumang, Frederick Ato Armah, Benjamin Ason

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2022  

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> The Central Region of Ghana is endowed with rich kaolin deposits with immense potential industrial application which largely remain untapped due to limited information on geochemical properties. This paper assessed the geological composition of kaolin deposits with the view of elucidating their use in the formulation of climate-smart Portland cement. Four kaolin deposits in the Central Region were randomly selected and 20g each of 90mm of the kaolin samples from the selected deposits were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the mineralogical composition and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the elemental composition. The results from the XRF determination were used in the principal component analysis. It was also used to compute geochemical indices, such as chemical index of alteration (CIA), chemical index of weathering (CIW) and the index of compositional variability (ICV) to determine the intensity of weathering of the kaolin as well as identify the different rock types from which they originated. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) values ranges from 86.7% (kaolin deposits in Ekon) to 95.8% (kaolin deposits in Saltpond), which suggest an extreme silicate weathering of feldspars; the chemical index of weathering (CIW) values obtained also ranged from 96.6% to 98.6%, which indicate an increasing degree of weathering; index of compositional variability (ICV) varies from 0.19 to 0.66 as well as low K<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O/Al<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> ratios indicate that kaolin deposits in the study area is compositionally mature and are rich in kaolinite. The geochemical characteristics of studied kaolin suggest that, they can be used in the ceramic, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, paper and other industries. Also, the high concentration of titanium dioxide found as anatasse reduce the quality of the kaolin which needs to be removed. The removed titanium dioxide can then be used in the formulation of climate-smart cement.
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