X-RAY FLUORESCENCE an‎d MOSSBAUER SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CLAYS AROUND KHARTOUM

total of 69 clay samples were collected from the area around Khartoum province. A complete chemical analysis was carried out using different techniques. It was then revealed that there are no significant differences in the chemical composition between most of the samples. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the clay samples were mainly of the smectite group with traces of the kaolinite one. The determination of total iron content as well as the concentration of Fe^2+, Fe^3+ ions and the free iron oxides were accomplished by Mossbauer spectroscopy. The lower limits of the Fe2O3: Al2O3 ratio for each of montronite and montmorillonite clay minerals were determined. A ratio of 1:1.5 indicated nontronite while a ratio of 1:1.5 indicated a montmorillonite clay mineral. The samples studied were classified as nontronite clay minerals.