Clays and Clay Minerals in Western High Atlas: Characterization, Geological Significance and Industrial Uses

Abstract

In the area of the western High Atlas, the clay formations are very abundant and much diversified. However, the use of clays in industry is still very restricted and the industrial exploitation remains insufficient. The Triassic detrital formations provide the most developed and representative outcrops of clays of the area; they were exploited formerly for the industry of the terra cotta. In the Jurassic-Cretaceous series, the clay assemblage evolution shows a very important geographical and stratigraphical variation. However, because of their low content in the sediments, clays are mainly exploited in the industry of cements. In the Tertiary series, when fibrous minerals characterize the clay fraction of the Palaeocene-Eocene formations, semectites are the most abundant mineral during the Miopliocene. These clay materials have been used since ancient times for cottage industry. The Quaternary continental formations present a clay fraction dominated by the illite and sometimes by kaolinite or smectite. The industrial exploitation of these clays is the most significant in the area. They are especially used in cottage industry and in the industry of the bricks.