ABSTRACT
This present work attempts to study the geochemistry of gypsum deposits in the Cretaceous Fika Shale of Nafada and environs. This is done in order to evaluate the quality of gypsum deposit Nafada area. Another objective of the study is to determine the different gypsum forms and there occurrences and also how can these gypsum be used for different industrial applications. Geochemical results of twenty samples were obtained in the laboratory of Ashaka cement plc. The major and the minor oxides of the samples were known, also a petrographic analysis of the samples were carried out in the laboratory of the geology department of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, to know the different characteristics of the different gypsum forms. This study can give an easy approach to different industrial application of gypsum based on the geochemistry obtained and there characteristics. The gypsum in the study area has an average purity of 91.775 (wt. %). A comparison was made between the gypsum in the study area and other foreign and local gypsum of pure quality. The results conform to the specifications of the British industrial standard and the Raw material Research Development Council. The results of this work shows that different gypsum in the study area have different quality that can suit in for different industrial purposes such as agriculture, pharmaceutical, ceramic, cement and plaster.
Key words: Geochemistry, Gypsum, Petrography
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