Characterisation of Kaolin Deposits for Industrial Application in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Katsina State, North West Nigeria, contains kaolin deposits of unverified industrial quality, despite the mineral's well-established applications in ceramics, paper, paint, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. This study characterises kaolin deposits in the Jibia and Kankara areas of Katsina State with respect to their mineralogical composition and industrial processing properties. Field sampling was conducted at six kaolin occurrences, with samples subjected to X-ray diffraction for mineral phase identification, X-ray fluorescence for oxide geochemistry, and particle size distribution analysis by laser diffraction. Brightness, viscosity, and plasticity index tests were conducted in accordance with industrial kaolin specifications. Results indicate that Katsina kaolin is predominantly composed of kaolinite (62 to 78 percent) with halloysite, quartz, and iron oxide as accessory phases. Iron oxide impurities in the range of 1.2 to 3.4 percent reduce the brightness index below the threshold required for paper-coating applications without prior beneficiation. Acid leaching and magnetic separation experiments demonstrate that iron content can be reduced to 0.4 percent, improving brightness to commercially acceptable levels. The study recommends targeted prospecting to delineate higher-purity zones and investment in a pilot beneficiation plant to produce value-added kaolin concentrate for domestic industrial use. Keywords: kaolin, characterisation, Katsina State, industrial minerals, beneficiation.