Physico-Chemical charaterisation of Sabon-Karreʹs Clay.

Clay samples taken at Sabon-Karre in the region of Tahoua (Niger Republic) have undergone a series of mineralogic, chemical and physico-chemical analysis. The analysis show that the clay minerals are mainly formed of smectite (72 %) associated with kaolinite (19 %) and illite (2%).The interstratified Illite / Smectite represents 7 %. The clay phase < 2^m represents 26, 78% of the rock mother. The ICP-AES chemical analysis shows that this clay is in majority composed of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 MgO, Na2O, and does not present any harmful elements. The granulometery laser shows that 26, 78% of these particles have a diameter inferior to 2^m. The samplesʹthermic behavior shows that losses of water humidity and interfoliar water occur between 30 and 130 °C the loss of constitution water at 530°C. The clay decarbonation occurs between 900 and 1000°C. These results compared to those of literature enable to state that the Clay of Sabon-Karre is bentonite.