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Geology of the Bushrod Island-New Georgia clay deposit near Monrovia, Liberia

Open-File Report 70-29
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr7029

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Abstract

The Bushrod Island-New Georgia clay deposit near Monrovia, Liberia, consisted of interlensing clay and very fine to fine quartz sand; it was deposited in elongate subparallel troughs that had been eroded in coarse-grained sediments. The troughs are interpreted as abandoned stream channels on a former delta of the St. Paul River. The clay of the deposit is essentially a quartz-rich kaolinitic clay that has undergone sufficient weathering in the upper part of the deposit to redistribute iron and alumina.

The clay may be divided into three groups: an iron-rich group (A) in which total iron expressed as Fe2O3 averages 6.5 percent and ranges from 4.4 to 9.2 percent, a group (B) relatively lower in iron in which total iron expressed as Fe2O3 averages 2.7 percent and ranges from 1.6 to 7.4 percent, and a group (C) high in both organic material and iron in which total iron expressed as Fe2O3 averages 3.9 percent and ranges from 3.3 to 4.9 percent.

Potential indicated reserves for the three groups are estimated at 1,800,000, 5,300,000, and 470,000 tons, respectively.

Tests of the physical properties of the raw and fired clay indicate the clay is suitable for the following commercial uses: building brick, hollow tile, drain tile, roofing tile, quarry tile, flower pots, porous earthenware, low to intermediate duty refractory products, and probably stoneware and small diameter sewer pipe.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Geology of the Bushrod Island-New Georgia clay deposit near Monrovia, Liberia
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 70-29
DOI 10.3133/ofr7029
Year Published 1970
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 35 p.
Country Liberia
City Monrovia
Other Geospatial Bushrod Island
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