article · Scientific Reports
Growing global demand for ceramics requires the exploration of alternative raw material reserves. An assessment was conducted on Upper Cretaceous clay deposits in the Abu Zenima area to establish their viability for the ceramic industry. Remote sensing was used to identify kaolinite-bearing formations and locate additional clay reserves. Ten representative samples from the Matulla Formation were tested for their mineralogical, geochemical, morphological, physical, thermal, and plasticity characteristics, including surface analysis using electron microscopy. Particle-size distributions confirmed that the sampled materials are suitable for producing ceramic tiles and white ceramic stoneware. The overall technological properties establish the industrial viability of Abu Zenima clay across several ceramic products. With substantial reserves of acceptable quality identified, these deposits offer a lower-cost raw material supply for regional ceramic producers.
Industrial ceramic manufacturing requires dependable, cost-effective sources of raw materials to meet rising demand. Confirming that local geological reserves meet commercial manufacturing standards helps ceramic producers secure lower-cost feedstocks. This reduces dependence on external supplies and supports the expansion of regional industrial operations.
The findings are relevant to manufacturers of ceramic tiles and white ceramic stoneware seeking cheaper, regional raw materials. The work represents an applied and tested stage of material validation, confirming that the clays meet technological specifications for production. Commercial uptake would target ceramic enterprises looking to reduce production costs through nearby raw material extraction.
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The rapid development and mutations have heightened ceramic industrialization to supply the countries' requirements worldwide. Therefore, the continuous exploration for new reserves of possible ceramic-raw materials is needed to overwhelm the increased demand for ceramic industries. In this study, the suitability assessment of potential applications for Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) clay deposits at Abu Zenima area, as raw materials in ceramic industries, was extensively performed. Remote sensing data were employed to map the Kaolinite-bearing formation as well as determine the additional occurrences of clay reserves in the studied area. In this context, ten representative clayey materials from the Matulla Formation were sampled and examined for their mineralogical, geochemical, morphological, physical, thermal, and plasticity characteristics. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of starting clay materials were examined. The physicochemical surface properties of the studied clay were studied utilizing SEM-EDX and TEM. The particle-size analysis confirmed the adequate characteristics of samples for white ceramic stoneware and ceramic tiles manufacturing. The technological and suitability properties of investigated clay deposits proved the industrial appropriateness of Abu Zenima clay as a potential ceramic raw material for various ceramic products. The existence of high kaolin reserves in the studied area with reasonable quality and quantity has regional significance. It would significantly help reduce the manufacturing cost and overwhelm the high consumption rate. The ceramic manufacturers in the investigated areas are expected to bring steady producers into the industry in the long term to gain the advantage of low-cost raw materials, labor, and factory construction.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26484-5
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