Chemical and mineralogical features of the Republic of Ingushetia lower cretaceous argillites as the building ceramics production raw material

Relevance of the research is conditioned by the necessity of raw material base search and development in the North Caucasus for the wide range of building ceramics production – ceramic bricks, large-size lightweighted ceramic stones, wall and road clinker bricks, clinker tiles. The aim of the work was to study the Lower Cretaceous mudstones of the Republic of Ingushetia (Assa River) material composition and ceramic properties as a raw material for the various types of construction ceramics production. The research objects were the Lower Cretaceous argillites surfacing along the Assa River and the road connecting the northern and southern parts of the Republic of Ingushetia between the village of Verkhny Alkun and the Tsarkh tract. Research methods: method of rocks quantitative chemical analysis, X-ray phase studies, optical and electron microscopy, electron probe studies, which provide the possibility of wide range elemental analysis, methods for the rocks physical and mechanical properties determining; methods for conducting technological tests on the relevant technologies for the building materials and products production. The study results of the Republic of Ingushetia Lower Cretaceous argillite deposits geological structure have shown an important feature – between the argillites layers with the 10–25 cm thickness there are argillite-like clays interlayers with the 5–10 cm thickness. The argillites suitability for the wide range of construction ceramics production was found. Their chemical and mineral composition, structural features and physical and technological properties have been determined. It was found that the sintering degree is significantly influenced by grain composition of crushed mudstones. The strength of argillites-based calcined samples is characterized by a small ratio of compressive strength to bending strength – 3.3–3.5 units, which is a positive property for the ceramic materials production. The obtained data lead to conclusions that the prospect of introducing Lower Cretaceous mudstones into the demanded building ceramics production not only in the Republic of Ingushetia, but also in the whole North Caucasus.