PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF SOME TALC MINERAL DEPOSITS COLLECTED FROM FOUR STATES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper presents the analytic comparison of the physicochemical properties of talc mineral deposits present in some states in Nigeria with the intent of providing insight to the mineral composition of the talc deposit. Samples of talc mineral ore collected from Abaji, Abuja (ABS), Kagara, Niger state (KGS), Kebbi state (KBS) and two samples were obtained from Isanlu, Kogi state (Kogi brown and Kogi grey), were analysed via X-Ray Florescence XRF for metal oxides composition, bulk density, pH, solubility, acid solubility, moisture content and loss on ignition. The result of the metal oxides composition analysis indicates the presence of SiO2 in the range between 67.27, and 53.45%, MgO is present between 21.77, and 27.68%, sample KBS being the highest and KGS the lowest. Fe2O3, in the range 2.08, 11.60 and 10.23, 11.03 and 5.86% with sample KGS having the highest content and KBS lowest. Al2O3 is present between 1.00 -2.64%. In all the samples while metal oxides such as CaO, P2O5, SO3, TiO2, K2O, Cr2O3, NiO, MnO are present in traces between 0.09 to 0.3%. The pH of the samples is in the range of 6.97-7.54, bulk density is between 0.8013- 1.390g/cm-3, the moisture content is in the range of 0.1-0.6%. Loss on ignition is 3.756 -5.370%. The results showed that the Kebbi sample has higher purity than the samples from Niger, Kogi states and Abuja.