Clay Minerals, (2015) 50, 593–606

Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba

(west Cameroon): Mineralogical and
physicochemical characterization for use in
ceramic products
A . N K A L I H M E F I R E 1 , 2 , * , A . N J OYA 3 , R . YO N G U E FO U AT E U 2 , J . R . M AC H E 4 ,
N . A . TA PO N 5 , A . N Z E U KO U N Z E U G A N G 4 , U . M E LO C H I N J E 4 , P. P I L AT E 6 ,
P. F L A M E N T 6 , S . S I N I A P K I N E 1 , A . N G O N O 2 A N D N . FA G E L 1
1
Laboratory of Clays, Geochemistry and Sedimentary Environments, Department of Geology, University of Liège,
Quartier Agora, 14 Allée du 6 Août, Bât. B18, Sart Tilman - 4000, Liège, Belgium
2
Laboratory of Applied Geology-Metallogeny, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box. 812,
Yaoundé, Cameroon
3
Fine Arts Institute of Foumban, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 31, Foumban, Cameroon
4
Local Material Promotion Authority, P.O. Box, 2396 Yaoundé, Cameroon
5
Architecture, Geology, Environment and Construction, Sart Tilman Chemin des Chevreuils (B52), University of Liège,
4000 Liège, Belgium
6
Belgian Ceramic Research Center, 4, Avenue Gouverneur Cornez - B-7000 Mons, Belgium

(Received 20 April 2015; revised 12 September 2015; Associate Editor: Eric Ferrage)

A B S T R AC T : Thirty clay samples collected from three hills in Koutaba (west Cameroon) were
characterized in order to evaluate their potential use as raw materials for ceramics. After preliminary
mineralogical identification by X-ray diffraction, three representative samples from the three different
hills, referred to hereafter as K1M, K2M and K3M, were selected for further investigation by X-ray
fluorescence, plasticity, granularity and thermogravimetric analysis. The main clay minerals are kaolinite
(32–51%) and illite (up to 12%). Additional major phases are quartz (32–52%), goethite (6–7%) and
feldspars (0–4%). The chemical composition showed variable amounts of SiO2 (60–72%), Al2O3 (15–
20%) and Fe2O3 (1–9%), in accordance with the quartz abundance in all of the samples studied. The
particle-size distribution showed a large proportion of silty fraction (64–88%) with moderate sandy (9–
19%) and clayey fractions ( < 5% for K2M, 12% for K1M and 20% for K3M). All of the clays showed
moderate plasticity-index values (8–11%). Because of these characteristics, K1M and K3M may be
suitable for use in common bricks and hollow ceramic products. Sieving or the addition of ball clays is
recommended to increase the plasticity of sample K2M for use in common bricks.

KEYWORDS: kaolin, clays, mineralogy, thermal properties, geotechnical properties, ceramics, Cameroon.

Clayey materials are widespread in Cameroon, and
various types of clay deposits have been studied in
detail (Diko & Ekosse, 2012; Ngon Ngon et al., 2014),
*Email: Abiba.NkalihMefire@doct.ulg.ac.be
DOI: 10.1180/claymin.2015.050.5.04
alluvial clays (Nzeukou et al., 2013; Ndjigui et al.,
2014; Fadil-Djenabou et al., 2014) and residual clays
(Njoya et al., 2001). Residual clays are most abundant
in large areas of the humid, tropical region of southern
Cameroon. Their mineralogical composition is
dominated by kaolinite as the result of monosiallitiza-
tion (geochemical) processes (Yongue et al., 2009).

© 2016 The Mineralogical Society

594 A. Mefire et al.
Generally, the profiles display various morphologies
and thicknesses. From the bottom to the top, four layers
can be distinguished: a saprolite, a mottled clay horizon,
a nodular horizon and a soft clayey horizon known as
lateritic clayey deposit (Nguetnkam et al., 2008).
In western Cameroon, a number of studies have been
carried out to characterize and valorize kaolinitic clays
of Bana, Bangou and Lembo (Wouatong et al., 1996,
2013; Pialy et al., 2008) and Mayouom (Njoya et al.,
2001, 2006; Kamseu et al., 2007) for use in ceramics.
Clays have numerous industrial and technological
applications (Christidis, 2011), but their usage as raw
materials is influenced by their functional properties.
Thus, the assessment of clay deposits beginning with
the determination of their properties, is the first step
towards valorization. The aim of the present study was
to evaluate the physicochemical and mineralogical
features of the kaolin material discovered recently at
Koutaba (a village located ∼27 km south of Foumban)
in order to predict its potential applications.
G E O G R A P H I C A N D G E O LO G I C A L
SETTING
The Koutaba area is located in the Noun Division, in
the West Region of Cameroon (latitude 5°30–5°40 N
and longitude 10°30–10°50 E), between the Bamoun
Plateau (height: 1200–1100 m to the north, and 900 m
to the south) and the Noun Plain (average height of
900 m) and has an equatorial climate. Three volcanic
massifs (rhyolitic and/or basaltic), >2000 m in height,
dominate the landscape. The Bamoun Plateau consists
of Precambrian gneiss extruded by syntectonic pluto-
nism and affected in places by the Foumban Shear
Zone (FSZ) (Njonfang et al., 1998) and overlain by
Eocene basalts (Moundi et al., 2007). The plateau was
formed by a period of effusive volcanism at between
51.8 ± 1.2 and 46.7 ± 1.1 Ma. The western part of the
plateau is covered with Cenozoic volcanic ashes
(Moundi et al., 2007).
The Noun Plain is the natural border between the
Bamileke Plateau in the southwest and the Bamoun
plateau in the northwest (Wandji et al., 2008). Similar
to the Bamoun Plateau, it consists of a Precambrian
granite-gneiss basement, overlain by basaltic rocks.
Mount Mbapit is found in the Noun Plain, one of the
oldest mountains of the Cameroon Volcanic Line
(40K/40Ar age of 45.5–44.0 Ma) (Wandji et al., 2008).
A recent explosive volcanic eruption (>0.4 Ma)
occurred at the centre of the plain and produced
basaltic lava flows and pozzolanic tuffs (Wotchoko
et al., 2005) which are currently mined as building
materials. The study area is located between the Noun
Plain and Foumban Plateau near Mount Mbapit; it
consists of migmatites and basalts, strongly myloni-
tized quartzites and numerous quartzo-feldspathic
veins (Fig. 1) which seem to be linked to the northern
Foumban mylonitic shear zone (Njonfang et al., 1998).
Geophysical studies indicate the presence of a N68°E-
striking deep fault, dipping towards the southeast of the
Foumban area (Tatchum et al., 2011). The deep
weathering of these rocks led to the formation of the
residuals soils at the surface.
M AT E R I A L S A N D M E T H O D S
Materials and sampling
Three hills (K1, K2 and K3) near Koutaba were
surveyed using a hand auger from the hilltops
downslope. Road trenches and banking were observed
and their morphology was characterized for colour
(Munsell code), texture and thickness (Fig. 1). The
clayey materials in the three hills display similar
organization. A vertical cross-section along the slope
shows a succession of different layers (Fig. 2): namely
a gravelly breccia layer with rock fragments (∼1 m
thick); a more or less nodular red lateritic soil layer (up
to 2 m thick); a yellow whitish transitional layer (1 m
thick of mixed lateritic soil and whitish clays) and a
white clayey layer (5YR8/1) with quartzo-feldspatic
rocks fragments (4 m thick). Thirty samples were
collected (Table 1) from the different soil horizons of
the three profiles and were analyzed by X-ray
diffraction (XRD) to determine their mineralogical
composition (Fig. 3). The samples are denoted
hereafter as KX#n, where X = 1, 2 or 3 denotes the
hill sampled, # = a, b or c for the sample location on the
hill (a: top, b: mid-slope and c: down slope, Fig. 1) and
n = 1, …11 refers to the different sample depths. Based
on the similarity of the qualitative mineralogical
composition, the samples collected were homogenized
to form one sample per hill referred to as KXM. Thus,
K1M, K2M and K3M are the three representative
samples. Chemical and thermal analyses, particle-size
distribution (PSD) and plasticity analysis were carried
out on these three samples.
A N A LY T I C A L M E T H O D S
The XRD patterns were obtained using a Bruker
D8-Advance Eco 1Kw diffractometer (CuKα radi-
ation, λ = 1.5418 Å, 40 kV, 25 mA) with a Lynxeye Xe
energy-dispersive detector in the laboratory of
 Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon) 595

FIG. 1. Geological setting of the study area (after Wandji, 1995; Moundi et al., 2007) and sampling at top (a), mid-slope
(b) and down-slope (c) of three hills K1, K2 and K3 (adapted from Google Earth, 2014).

‘Argiles, Géochimie et Environments sedimentaire
(AGEs)’ at the University of Liège (Belgium). The
analyses were carried out on the bulk materials
(random powders <250 μm in size) and on the clay
fraction (<2 μm) according to Moore & Reynolds
(1997). The XRD patterns were recorded over the 2–
70°2θ range for the bulk material and between 2° and
30°2θ for the clay fraction. The step sizes used were
0.02° and 0.009°2θ, whereas the time per step was 0.25
and 0.5 s for the bulk sample and the clay fraction,
596 A. Mefire et al.

FIG. 2. Vertical organization of the clay materials from the top of hill K1 into four layers: (a) gravelly brecchia layer;
(b) red soil layer (2, 5YR7/4); (c) transitional layer (5YR8/4); and (d) white clayey layer (5YR8/1).

respectively. The primary optics is motorized in order to
illuminate a fixed sample length whatever the angular
position (16 mm for bulk samples, 12 mm for clays).
Further tests for detailed identification were ethylene
glycol (EG) solvated overnight and heated (500°C for
4 h). The identification of mineral phases was carried
out using Eva software (Bruker: https://www.bruker.
com/products/x-ray-diffraction-and-elemental-analysis/
x-ray-diffraction/xrd-software/eva/overview.html).
Thermal and chemical analyses were carried out in
the Belgian Ceramic Research Center (INISMa-CRIBC,
Mons, Belgium). Thermogravimetric (TG) analyses
were performed on ∼45 mg of the <250 μm fractions
of samples using a microbalance Cahn TG 171 with a
heating rate of 20°C/min from ambient temperature to
1200°C. Thermodilatometric analyses were carried out
on ∼45 mg of the <250 μm fraction of clay samples
using a SETARAM equipment at a heating rate of
10°C/min from ambient temperature to 1200°C and
up to 1450°C. Length changes were recorded every
minute during the heating stage.
Chemical analyses were obtained using X-ray
Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry (Bruker S8 Tiger
4 kW spectrometer). The samples were fused in a
borax flux and the determination of major elements
derived according to calibration against standards.
Particle-size analysis was performed at the
Laboratory of Geotechnologies at the University of
 Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon) 597

TABLE 1. Sample descriptions and locations. Each sample The first method (‘Method A’, Table 2) uses the
is referred to as KX#n, where X = 1, 2 or 3 denotes the hill height of a diagnostic peak multiplied by a correction
sampled, # = a, b or c for the sampling location on the hill factor (Cook et al., 1975; Boski et al., 1998) and the
(a: top, b: mid-slope and c: down-slope, Fig. 1) and n = 1, mineral abundances are normalized to 100%. The
…11 refers to the different sample depths. common reflection of clays at 4.47 Å is multiplied by a
corrective factor of 20 to give an estimate of the total
Sample GPS Thickness clays in the bulk sample (Table 2). For semi-
name coordinate (m) Colour quantification of the different clay minerals, estimates
of kaolinite and illite were based on the height of 001
K1b1 N 05° 35’ 0.10 Yellowish clays reflections (at ∼7 and ∼10 Å, respectively) with
K1b2 27.2’’ 0.50 (5YR8/4)
correction factors of 0.7 and 1.0, respectively (Fagel
K1b3 E 010° 41’ 1.20
17.13’’ et al., 2003) on glycolated specimens.
K1b4 1.50
The second method (‘Method B’, Table 2) is based
K1b5 1.60
on chemical analysis by XRF using the equation
K1b6 1.95
proposed by Yvon et al. (1982):
K1b7 2.00
K1b8 2.10 X
n
K1b9 2.40 T (x) ¼ Mi x Pi (x)
K1b10 2.50 1
K1b11 2.80 where T(x) is the percentage of oxide of chemical
K2a1 N 05° 35’ 1.00 Yellowish clays element x; Mi the percentage of mineral i in sample
K2a2 27.83’’ 1.50 (5YR8/4) containing chemical element x and Pi (x) the proportion
K2a3 E 010° 41’ 1.70
53.7’’ of element x in mineral i (calculated from the ideal
K2a4 1.95 mineral formula).
K2a5 0.50
This calculation is based on the results of qualitative
K2a6 0.50
mineralogical identification (XRD and differential
K2a7 2.60
thermal analysis-thermogravimetric analysis – DTA-
K2b1 N 05° 35’ 1.00
52.9’’ TG) and the chemical composition of the samples
K2b2 0.70
K2b3 E 010° 41’ 0.80 reported in Table 2.
52.7’’ The following chemical assignments were made:
K3a1 1.10 Reddish clays (1) K2O was assigned to illite or feldspars (detected
K3b1 N 05° 35’ 0.25 (5YR814) by XRD); (2) Fe2O3 was assigned to goethite (detected
K3b2 42.07’’ 1.60 by XRD); (3) Al2O3 was used to calculate the
E 010° 41’ contribution of kaolinite (detected by XRD) after
41.9’’
subtracting the contribution for illite or feldspars; and
K3a11 N 05° 35’ 2.40
55.4’’ (4) SiO2 was used to calculate the contribution of
K3b12 3.00
E 010° 41’ quartz (detected by XRD) after subtracting the
K3b13 3.50
K3b14 53.8’’ 4.00 contribution from kaolinite, illite or feldspars.
K3b15 4.30
K3b16 4.70
R E S U LT S A N D D I S C U S S I O N
Mineralogical composition
Liège (Belgium), with dry-sieving used for the
≥74 µm fraction and gravity sedimentation for fraction The XRD traces of the bulk samples showed the
<74 µm, according to the Stoke’s law. The Atterberg predominance of kaolinite and quartz in all the samples
Limits were obtained by the Casagrande method and the presence of minor goethite and feldspars
according to ASTM norm D-4318. (Fig. 4). The presence of kaolinite and/or other clay
minerals was confirmed in EG-solvated and heated
<2 µm fractions of oriented samples (Fig. 4). The
Semi-quantitative mineralogical analysis
reflection at 7.1 Å was not affected by EG solvation,
Semi-quantitative mineralogical analyses of the bulk and heating resulted in the disappearance of this peak
samples were done using two methods. as well as its harmonics, suggesting the presence of
598 A. Mefire et al.

TABLE 2. Mineralogical composition of the representative materials of the K1, K2 and K3 hills using two methods. The
first method uses the height of a diagnostic peak multiplied by a corrective factor together with the so-called 100%
approach (‘Method A’). The second method is based on the results of qualitative mineralogical identification (XRD and
DTA-TG analyses) and the chemical composition (XRF, ‘Method B’).

‘Method A’

Samples Minerals Diagnostic peak (Å) Correction factor References Mineralogical

composition (%)

K1M K2M K3M

Powder Quartz 3.37–3.31 1.00 Cook et al. (1975) 50.0 52.0 38.9
K-feldspar 3.21–3.26 4.30 – – 4.3
Goethite 2.46–2.43 7.00 6.1 6.9 5.4
Total clay 4.47 20.00 Boski et al. (1998) 43.9 41.2 51.5
Clay Kaolinite (EG) 7.1–7.2 0.70 Fagel et al. (2003) 31.9 32.1 51.5
Illite (EG) 10.00 1.00 12.1 9.1 –
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

“Method B”

Samples Minerals Diagnostic peak (Å) Correction factor References Mineralogical

composition (%)

K1M K2M K3M

Powder Quartz 3.37–3.31 – Yvon et al. (1982) 60.0 57.1 36.9

K-feldspar 3.21–3.26 – – 6.9 –
Goethite 2.68 – 1.6 1.2 9.9
Total clay 4.47 – 37.0 33.9 49.4
Kaolinite (EG) 7.1–7.2 – 28.1 33.9 49.4
Illite (EG) 10.00 – 8.9 – –
Total reconstitution 98.6 99.1 96.2

kaolinite (Moore & Reynolds, 1997). At ∼500°C,
kaolinite was effectively dehydroxylated and trans-
formed into metakaolinite. In addition, the basal
spacing at 10.1 Å remained unaffected after EG
solvation and heating and was assigned to illite. The
kaolinite content according to method A (Cook et al.,
1975; Boski et al. 1998) was estimated at >30 to >50%
with ∼40–50% of quartz (Table 2). The largest
kaolinite content >50% and the smallest quartz
content <40%) was found in sample K3M (‘Method
A’, Table 2). The illite content was estimated at ∼10%
for K2M and K1M. The results for kaolinite are
comparable with those of ‘Method B’ (Yvon et al.,
1982) (Table 2). For quartz, the difference between the
two methods was up to 10% (K1M). The mineralogical
compositions are comparable to those obtained for the
residual kaolin clayey materials from Lembo in the
West Region (Pialy et al., 2008; Wouatong et al., 1996,
2013) and differ from the sandy kaolins from the
Mayouom area (Njoya et al., 2006), some 60 km away,
due to the absence of pyrite, hydroxyl apatite and/or
hematite.
Thermal behaviour
The TG curves show two events of major weight loss
(Fig. 5). The first event at ∼200°C (0–1%) is attributed
to the loss of absorbed water. The second event at
∼500°C (4–8%) corresponds to the dehydroxylation of
kaolinite due to its transformation to metakaolinite
(Wang et al., 2011). Sample K3M displays greater
weight loss (8%) due to its larger proportion of kaolinite
compared to K1M and K2M (4%). An additional
weight-loss event at 200–300°C (0–2%), better
expressed in K3, is attributed to the dehydration of
goethite identified by XRD (Hajjaji et al., 2001). The
total weight loss of all the samples studied is smaller
than the theoretical value for pure kaolinite by 4–8%
 Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon) 599

FIG. 3. Relative abundance by semi-quantitative method (using ‘Method A’, see text for details) for 30 clay materials
from Koutaba: (a) bulk powder; (b) aggregates on the oriented <2 µm clay fraction.

(13.96 wt.%, Ptáček et al., 2010) reflecting the presence from the shrinkage observed at 573°C (transformation of
of impurities, especially quartz. These results were quartz) in all samples. In these curves, the shrinkage
confirmed by the thermodilatometric curves (Fig. 6) observed at 980°C (2% for K3M and 0.2% for K1M and
600 A. Mefire et al.

FIG. 4. XRD patterns of clay materials. (Upper) Bulk XRD (<250 µm) pattern with Ill: illite/mica, Kao: kaolinite, Ct:
total clay, Qtz: Quartz, Fp: feldspar and Goe: goethite. (Lower) <2 μm clay fraction pattern for K1M and K3M samples,
with N: air-dried condition, EG: solvation with ethylene-glycol for <24 h and H: heated at 500°C for 4 h.
 Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon) 601

FIG. 5. TG (solid lines) and DTG (dotted lines) for sample K1M (left) and K3M (right).

K2M) is related to the formation of spinel (Traoré et al.,
2001). The shrinkage event above 1200°C (4%) for
sample K3M and up to 1400°C (12%) for K1M and K2M
corresponds to the formation of mullite, a final crystalline
phase of densification. The rapid densification of K3M is
due to its chemical composition (presence of fluxing
species including iron) and/or its mineralogy (impurities).
Dilatometric analysis indicated that clays from Koutaba
might yield high-temperature minerals during firing
(spinel, mullite) and that the firing temperature of the
clays from Koutaba would be >1200°C.
Major-element composition
The chemical compositions of the clays are shown in
Table 3. The clays consist predominantly of SiO2 (60–
77%), Al2O3 (14–20%) and Fe2O3 (1–9%). The greater
iron content in K3 (9%) is consistent with the thermal
behaviour observed. As the iron content can modify the
colour of the ceramic ware products, sample K3 cannot
be recommended for production of fine ceramics but
may be considered as raw material in structural
ceramics such as pavement bricks and some roofing
tiles (Ngun et al., 2011). The SiO2/Al2O3 ratios range
from 3 to 5 and are related to the large amount of quartz
and the small abundances of K2O (1%) are related to
the small illite/mica content in the clays studied. The
small total amount of alkali and alkaline earth elements
(<1.5%) suggests that the clays are suitable for use in
porcelain, sanitary ware and tableware (Reeves et al.,
2006). The small alkali content accounts for the
absence of vitreous phases at low firing temperatures

FIG. 6. Thermodilatometric curves of samples K1M, K2M and K3M.

602 A. Mefire et al.

TABLE 3. Physical (grain-size distribution, plasticity) and observed in the thermodilatometric curves of both
chemical properties (major elemental compositions) of K1M and K2M. The small MgO content is consistent
clay materials. with the absence of chlorite-group minerals. Finally,
the small loss on ignition value (5–8%) compared to
Representative samples that of pure kaolinitic clays (14%) reflects the
dominance of impurities such as quartz. This quartz
K1M K2M K3M content in the clay materials may impart high abrasion
to the finished products such as bricks and tiles
Physical properties
(Kormann et al., 2005).
Clay <2 μm 12 3 20
Silt : 2–20 µm 51 60 52
Silt: (2–64 μm) % 69 88 64
Sand: (>20 µm) % 37 37 28 Physical properties
Sand: (>64 μm) % 19 9 11
Liquid limit (Wl ) (%) 42 60 42 The particle-size distribution of clays is a key factor
Plastic limit (Wp) (%) 34 51 31 in determining their suitability for various applications.
Plastic index (Ip) (%) 8 9 11 In the case of ceramic products, particular attention is
Major chemistry (wt.%) paid to the finer (<2 μm) fraction (Mahmoudi et al.,
SiO2 77.25 77.47 60.07 2008). The particle-size distribution of the clays shows
Al2O3 14.67 14.80 19.75 that the clays are rich in terms of the silt fraction
Fe2O3 1.40 1.08 8.87 (64–88%), whereas the clay and the sand fractions are
K2O 1.08 1.17 0.80 less abundant (3–20%, and 9–19%, respectively)
MgO 0.08 0.11 0.52 (Table 3). The K3M sample has the largest and the
TiO2 0.16 0.11 1.51 K2M sample the smallest clay-fraction contents. In the
CaO 0.06 0.06 0.12 ternary diagram used widely in the ceramics industry
Mn2O3 0.01 0.01 0.05 (Dondi et al., 1992), the clay materials studied were
Cr2O3 0.01 0.01 0.02 classified as silty sand (i.e. for the K1M and K2M
ZrO2 0.07 0.07 0.12 samples) and sand silt clay (K3M sample, Fig. 7).
P2O5 0.02 0.01 0.16 When the clay materials from Koutaba were plotted on
L.O.I. (1000°C) 5.20 5.11 8.05 the ternary diagram of Winkler (1954) to evaluate their
Total 100.01 100.00 100.04 suitability for building products, samples K1M and
SiO2/Al2O3 5.27 5.24 3.04
K3M were found to be suitable for use in building

FIG. 7. Ternary classification of clay materials based on sand-silt-clay ratios (after Dondi et al., 1992).
 Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon)
FIG. 8. Grain-size classification of Koutaba clay materials
according to Winkler’s (1954) diagram: (I) common
bricks; (II) vertically perforated bricks; (III) roofing tiles
and masonry bricks; and (IV) hollow products.
products whereas K2M was not (Fig. 8). Sample K1M
is suitable for use in common bricks whereas K3M
could be used to produce hollow ceramic products.
Clay materials are characterized by a moderate
plasticity index (PI) of between 8 and 12% (Table 3).
According to Leonards (1968), they may be classified
as clays with medium plasticity, defined by PI values
ranging between 5 and 15%. In the diagram proposed
by Holtz & Kovacs (1981), the samples plot as
FIG. 9. Position of clay samples K1M, K2M and K3M on the Holtz and Kovacs diagram (Holtz & Kovacs, 1981).
603
kaolinitic clays (Fig. 9). With PI values of <10%,
samples K1M and K2M were found to be unsuitable
for building-related ceramics production due to the risk
of inappropriate dimensional characteristics and even
cracks during extrusion (Nyakairu et al., 2002).
Sample K3M has PI values >10% and it might,
therefore, be used to produce structural clay products
by extrusion. The addition of polymers to K1M and
K2M will increase plasticity and prevent cracking
during extrusion.
Genesis of the kaolin clays
Kaolin deposits and their occurrence result from
primary (residual and hydrothermal) or secondary
processes or by a combination of both processes
(Fernandez-Caliani et al., 2010). At Koutaba, the
mineral paragenesis dominated by kaolinite and
quartz, associated with illite ± feldspar ± goethite,
indicates that clay materials have been derived from
weathering of the Pan African granite-gneiss base-
ment. Kaolinite is the alteration product of feldspar and
illite. The absence of minerals typical of hydrothermal
activity underlines the residual origin of the clay
deposits of Koutaba (Njoya et al., 2006; Mache et al.,
2013). The almost complete leaching of MnO, CaO
and Na2O, however, is also compatible with advanced
argillic alteration systems associated with hydrother-
mal kaolin deposits (Inoue, 1995). In humid tropical
climates, clayey materials are widespread in lateritic
604 A. Mefire et al.
mantles and appear homogeneous despite their
variable thicknesses and iron content (Tardy, 1993).
Their location on the interfluves, their spatial organ-
ization with rock fragments along the profiles of the
area, and the homogeneity of clay materials similar to
that observed in southern Cameroon (Nguetnkam
et al., 2008; Yongue et al., 2009) suggest a strong
dependence between the weathering clay products and
the substratum, which is possible only if the products
remained in situ.
The compositions of the kaolin clay materials
studied are similar to the kaolinitic clay materials in
the Lembo area (Pialy et al., 2008), formed in a well-
drained hilly environment from weathering of orthog-
neiss, and the sand-poor kaolin from the Mayouom
area formed from magmatic intrusive-shaped veins in
the West Region of Cameroon (Njoya et al., 2006). In
contrast, the Koutaba clays differ from white and
yellowish Bana clays characterized by smectite (Mache
et al., 2013). On an African scale, the composition of
the Koutaba kaolinitic clays are similar to those of the
residual kaolin from Bombowha in Ethiopia, which
formed from hydrothermal and in situ weathering of
pegmatites and granites (Ekosse et al., 2010).
CONCLUSIONS
The kaolin clays occurring in the Κ1, Κ2 and Κ3 hills
at the Koutaba area, west Cameroon, were formed from
supergene alteration of a granite-gneiss basement. The
clays consist principally of quartz, kaolinite and illite.
According to their chemical composition, the clay
materials from hills K1 and K2 are suitable for use in
white ceramic products, whereas in that from hill K3;
the iron content (9%) exceeds the acceptable threshold.
The clay materials in that sample may be valued as
degreasing additives in clay and earthenware products,
however. The small Al2O3 content (15–20%) does not
allow use of the materials as refractory products
without additional treatments. The small amounts of
fluxes such as alkali and Fe2O3 in samples K1M and
K2M suggest that the densification of the fired
products would appear at higher temperatures. Two
of the clayey materials studied (K1M and K3M) may
be suitable for production of common bricks and
hollow ceramic products. The mineralogical and
physio-chemical parameters indicate that the Koutaba
clays might be used in ceramics; further assessment is
thus needed, including industrial tests (bending
strength, water-absorption water, mineralogy of fired
products) to determine suitable applications and
formulations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The present study was carried out within the framework of a
Research and Development Project funded by Ares-CCD
/PRD “Characterisation et valorisation des Matériaux
Argileux de Foumban (Ouest-Cameroun)-MAFO” of The
‘Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur
(ARES), Belgium’. The study was made possible thanks to
a 4-month mobility grant from the University of Liège
combined with 8 months of a PhD grant from the ARES-
CCD. The authors are grateful to Joel Otten for his technical
support and to Dr Murielle Perronnet for constructive
comments which improved the manuscript.
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