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Comparative Studies | Material Science and Engineering | Sierra Leone | Volume 13 Issue 5, May 2024 | Popularity: 5.2 / 10
Comparative Study of Soil Profiles of Ceramic Stoves Production Clays of Sierra Leone: (Case Study of Four Traditional Pottery Communities)
Mohamed Syed Fofanah
Abstract: Sierra Leone soils are mainly ultisols in which the accumulated clay has long been recognized as an important raw material for building and manufacturing of ceramic utensils. The basis for classification and understanding ceramic clays is the soil profile description made in the field, where soils occur. Laboratory investigations only supplement understanding of soil profile descriptions made in the field. For ceramic products to be appreciated in Sierra Leone, which has a high potential for the establishment of ceramic industry due to her huge deposit of clay, research has to be done to provide information on the various clay deposits with reference to their ceramic suitability and to do so an understanding of the soil profiles from which this clays are extracted is essential. Two hundreds or more years have passed since the discovery of ceramics and many civilizations in the world have developed this industry to economically viable and environmentally sound levels. Where Sierra Leone stands in all this development is yet to be determined. The development of ceramics at the traditional level in Sierra Leone has regrettably not advance beyond the first basic stage discovered by primeval man. To this day, sun-dried mud instead of firm relatively indestructive fired bricks are used for building houses in rural communities. This study aims at identifying some properties of soil profiles whose clays could be used in ceramics production of tiles, bricks and household utensils so as to establish small scale ceramic industries that could improve the livelihoods of pottery communities in Sierra Leone. Three soil profiles, representing taxonomic units, were sampled from each of the four sites (Pa Loko, Niagorehun, Yengema and Mabettor). The sampled soil profiles from each unit were described using freshly exposed vertical pits and fresh auger boring at depth within horizons. Clay samples were collected from the ?B? Horizon and both the physical and chemical properties of these clays were analyzed. From the results of both the physical and chemical analyses of the clay samples collected from the various soil profiles, a conclusion could be made that the clays are suitable for the production of ceramic building materials, especially fired bricks. For manufacture of ceramic wares, these clays need further processing through addition of grog and other additives to improve it firing characteristic.
Keywords: Soil profile, horizons, clay, ultisol, ceramic industry, physiography, landscape, granite and acid gneiss, kaolinite, feldspar, physical and chemical analyses
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 5, May 2024
Pages: 788 - 797
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.21275/SR24512200359
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