Assessment of waste clays in the Qusseir region of east central Egypt for production of lightweight bricks

Abstract

Egyptian Upper Cretaceous waste clay samples from Yunis Mines, Qusseir vicinity, Eastern Desert, were investigated for their chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as for firing. These investigations were carried out to assess the suitability to use the waste clays for the production of lightweight bricks. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were applied for characterizing chemical and mineral compositions of the raw clays. On the other side, densification parameters of the fired samples up to 1100 °C were examined by using Archimedes water-saturation methods and by determining the density and crushing strength of the fired bodies.