Composition and ceramic properties of some Tushka Basin clays, Egypt

Some clay deposits at Tushka Basin area, Egypt, were investigated for their textural, mineralogical and chemical composition as well as ceramic properties. The textural composition of these clays falls in the silty-clay category The clay minerals include kaolinite montmorillonite and illite in descending order of abundance. The content of Al2O3, fluxing oxides and SiO2 make this raw material to be of low-grade clays. The ceramic properties of Tushka Basin clays show that they are plastic and sensitive upon drying. The studied clays gave a more or less, appreciable linear shrinkage when fired vp to 1000 degrees C. These clays gave reasonable ceramic properties when applied at a slow rate of firing and 2 hours soaking time.