Assessment of Some Clay Deposits from Fatha Formation (M. Miocene) for Brick Manufacturing in Koya Area, NE Iraq

  • Nawzat R. Ismail Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.
  • Hemn M. Omar Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.
Keywords: Clay brick, physical properties, plasticity, X-ray diffraction

Abstract

This paper deals with the evaluation of physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of claystone sediments of Miocene age (Fatha Formation) and their suitability to use them as raw materials in manufacturing of building clay brick in Kurdistan (Koya city). The study based on the field reconnaissance for three sites of claystones which were selected from three different locations within Fatha Formation in Koya city, includes Haibat-Sultan area, Koya-Sulaimania road and central of Koya city. The clay samples were subjected to particle size distribution, chemical composition, mineralogical analysis, plasticity index and XRD tests. Clay tiles were produced by using Semi-dry method under load 78 kN/mm² and fired at 950 C°. The produced clay tiles were subjected to water absorption, efflorescence, shrinkage and compressive strength tests. The research has shown that the plasticity index depends on the mineral composition of the raw materials. The grain size analysis of raw materials, physical properties and mechanical properties of the produced tiles has shown the suitability of the used raw materials in producing class bricks of class A (first class) according to the requirements of specification of the Iraqi Standard (1993).

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Author Biographies

Nawzat R. Ismail, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.

Nawzat R. Ismail is a lecturer at the department of Geotechnical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University since 2004. He has a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in sedimentology and stratigraphical geology from Mosul University, Iraq.
Nawzat's main research interests are in the sedimentology & stratigraphy of Cenozoic Era of formations (rock units) for Kurdistan region and suitability in engineering projects.

Hemn M. Omar, Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.
Hemn M. Omar is a lecturer at the department of Geotechnical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, KoyaUniversity since 2004. He has a B.Sc. degree in Geology and M.Sc. degree in Geotechnical Engineering. His main research area is geotechnical investigation and engineering geological assessment. Hemn is a Consultant at the Kurdistan Geological Union.

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Published
2014-06-05
How to Cite
Ismail, N. R. and Omar, H. M. (2014) “Assessment of Some Clay Deposits from Fatha Formation (M. Miocene) for Brick Manufacturing in Koya Area, NE Iraq”, ARO-THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KOYA UNIVERSITY, 2(1), pp. 16-23. doi: 10.14500/aro.10030.
Section
Articles