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Characterization of clays from the Fez area (northern Morocco) for potential uses in the ceramics industry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2022

Mouhssin El Halim Open the ORCID record for Mouhssin El Halim [Opens in a new window] ,
Lahcen Daoudi ,
Meriam El Ouahabi  and
Nathalie Fagel
Mouhssin El Halim*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géosciences, Géo-Environnement et Génie civil (L3G), Département des Sciences de la Terre, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 549 – Marrakech, Morocco UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000, Belgium Centre Jacques-Berque (CJB), Avenue Tariq Ibn Ziyad, Rabat, BP 10000, Morocco
Lahcen Daoudi
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géosciences, Géo-Environnement et Génie civil (L3G), Département des Sciences de la Terre, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 549 – Marrakech, Morocco
Meriam El Ouahabi
Affiliation:
UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000, Belgium
Nathalie Fagel
Affiliation:
UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000, Belgium
*
*Email: elhalim.mouhsin@gmail.com
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Abstract

Clays from the Saïss basin (northern Morocco) used traditionally in the ceramic industry in the Fez area were studied using mineralogical and physicochemical techniques to evaluate their potential suitability as raw materials for ceramics manufacture. X-ray diffraction was used to determine their mineralogical composition. The physical properties determined were particle-size distribution and consistency limits. The chemical composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. The structural changes of the mineral phases in the raw materials during firing were studied over a temperature range of 500–1000°C. In the pottery site from Fez, generally potters use a mixture of 25% fine clay (ARFS) from the upper part of the Miocene marls and 75% sandy clay (ARFR) from the lower part of the Miocene marls. The ARFS clay yielded very rigid specimens after firing that artisan potters would find difficult to handle so as to produce desired shapes and sizes. However, the specimens obtained from ARFR clay show signs of faltering. The mixture of these two clayey materials from this pottery site is therefore necessary to obtain the optimal paste for ceramics purposes. The chemical compositions indicated that SiO2, Al2O3, CaO and Fe2O3 are the major minerals, with trace amounts of K2O and MgO. Quartz, feldspars and clay minerals prevail in all samples. Kaolinite, illite and smectite are the dominant clay mineral phases, with traces of chlorite and interstratified illite–smectite. The classification of these samples using appropriate ternary diagrams showed that the proportions used in the mixture produce a new material with adequate characteristics for the production of traditional ceramics.

Keywords

clayey marlsFezMoroccopotteryraw materials
Type
Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 57 , Issue 3-4 , September 2022 , pp. 139 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

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Footnotes

Associate Editor: J. Huertas

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