Abstract

Five (05) clay samples were obtained from Okhoro and Environs in Southern Nigeria and subjected to geochemical and mineralogical analysis, the aim of which is to determine if the clays are free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) for the production of paint. The analysis was achieved with the aid of the X-Ray Florescence (XRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) machines, respectively. Results for XRF gave values of SiO2 (37.54-58.45wt%) with mean values of 51.05wt% and Al2 O3 (27.49-33.60wt%) with mean values of 29.67wt%. Other major oxides include Fe2 O3 , MgO, CaO, K2 O and NaO with mean values of 7.40wt%, 0.61wt%, 0.46%, 1.14% and 0.38%, respectively. The XRD analysis shows dominant contribution from kaolinite and k-feldspar with minor amount of quartz, mica, hematite, montmorrillonite, illite and others. The clays from Okhoro area could be used for paint production subject to beneficiation with silica-rich material such as sands, quartz, quartzite to mention a few.