Clay occurrences and their industrial suitability in parts of north Tripura, west Tripura and south Tripura districts of Tripura, India
Nim, S.P.; Chandran, M.S.resh
Pages 226-232 1998
1998
Document Number: 535158
Good quality grey, plastic clay occurs within the Quaternary sediments as tabular and lensoidal bodies in parts of North Tripura, West Tripura and South Tripura districts of Tripura. These occurrences are restricted to the broad valleys as well as to the flood plains of major rivers. Drilling up to depth of three metres was carried out at fifty three places to establish depth persistence and extension of the clay occurrences in the area. The clay of the area is covered by 0.5-1 m thick silty sand/sandy silt. The total area covered by the clay occurrences in Tulamura, Chandrapur, Amtali and Sonaimuri measures 6.8 sq km. The clay occurs at shallow depth which can easily be exploited. The study also includes whole rock analysis, XRD studies, DTA, bulk sample analysis and study of physicomechanical properties of selected samples. The results of these analyses indicate that the clays from Amtali area of West Tripura district show high plasticity and contain 23.97% alumina and kaolinite to be around 60%; whereas the samples from Tulamura area of South Tripura district contain 20.88% alumina and kaolinite to be around 52% and show medium plasticity. Chemical analyses of forty samples indicate that the alumina content varies from 9.70% to 25.52%, Fe (sub 2) O (sub 3) from 1.76% to 7.5% and TiO (sub 2) from 0.1% to 0.6%. The higher content of silica, Fe (sub 2) O (sub 3) and TiO (sub 2) are the main deleterious contents for its use in ceramic industry. The clays containing more than 20% alumina and medium to high plasticity are of some interest as these provide good raw material for ceramic industry. The XRD studies have revealed the absence of iron phase in the samples as the iron constituents are below the detectable limit of 5%. The bulk samples analysis form Anandnagar area of West Tripura district shows that the alumina content is 25.86%, PCE value (in Orton Cone) Cone 20-26, close to Cone 20, particles finer than 2 micron 75%, plasticity good by handfeel and water plasticity 46.87. This clay can be used in ceramic industry as bond clay but due to development of brown colour on firing, the product may be restricted to SW pipes, mural tiles, floor tiles, terracotta, etc. The clay can also be used for wall tiles, sanitary ware and stone ware, with suitable opacifying glazes.