Mapping and Profiling of Clay Resources found in Brgy. Bugas-Bugas, Placer and Brgy. Cabugo, Claver in Surigao Del Norte
Abstract:
Mapping and profiling of clay resources were essential for numerous industries due to clay's unique properties and widespread availability. This study employed GPS and QGIS to map clay resources in Brgy. Bugas-Bugas, Placer, and Brgy. Cabugo, Claver, Surigao del Norte. Laboratory analysis was conducted to evaluate elemental and min eral composition, plasticity, shrinkage, water absorption, porosity, color characteristics, and flexural strength of the clay samples. Significant variations in clay properties were observed, with chemical analysis revealing higher silica content in Claver and Placer clay, indicating potential strength and lower shrinkage. Conversely, Kauswagan clay exhibited higher levels of aluminum oxide and iron oxide, suggesting increased water absorption and darker coloration after firing. XRD analysis identified montmorillonite as the main mineral found in the Claver clay sample, while the Placer clay sample from Brgy. Bugas-Bugas was identified as dickite clay, containing significant quartz and anorthite, a variety of plagioclase, indicative of a siliceous secondary clay. Plasticity tests demonstrated high plasticity for Kauswagan and moderate plasticity for Claver and Placer, while shrinkage tests indicated low drying shrinkage for Placer and high total linear shrinkage for Kauswagan. Kauswagan clay exhibited the highest water absorption rates, whereas Placer and Claver clays were suitable for tile manufacturing due to their lower water absorption rates. Porosity was highest in Kauswagan, followed by Placer. Color analysis revealed that fired Placer samples were lighter in color compared to Claver samples, with both showing a slight shift towards green and a more yellowish hue in Placer. Placer exhibited higher flexural strength compared to Kauswagan. These findings significantly contributed to understanding clay resources in the area, facilitating informed decision-making for their development and utilization of clay across a wide range of industries vital for efficient and effective resource management.
