Geological and Mineralogical Study of the Clays of Boumaiza Northeast of Algeria

This study concerns with clay deposits, occurring at Boumaiza Northeast of Algeria, due to the significance of clay in manufacture. To meet the objectives of the study, data from both field and laboratory are collected the field data includes geological investigations and samples collection, whereas the laboratory data consists of several analytical techniques (XRD, infrared absorption spectroscopy, chemical analysis, determination of the humidity, determination of the loss on ignition, porosity and granulometric analysis). The geological results show that these clays are associated with the Numidian flysch of the Edough complex and the laboratory results reveal that the illite is the dominant clay mineral, quartz, kaolinite, montmorillonite are also present, the size of clay particules is between 2 and 10 m, the samples contain a low content of carbonates and show an important vacuum. These clays could be used for the fabrication of various ceramics especially, bricks and tiles, it may also be used in environmental protection by immobilizing polluants.