Characterization of Clays of the Sillon South Rif (Morocco)

In view of increasing exploitation of clays for the ceramic industry and for the purpose of the value addition of the national natural resource, a study was conducted to characterize the Miocene clay occurring in the Sillon South Rif area of Morocco through geochemical, mineralogical, submicroscopic (scanning electron microscope) and thermogravimetrical analyzes. The mineralogical analysis indicated the presence of kaolinite and illite. The geochemical analysis indicated that the major elements of clay samples are mainly composed of silica and alumina alongwith minor amounts of the alkaline oxide and alkaline earth metals. Scanning electron microscopic observations show that the clay matrix is made up of several clay minerals