MINERAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF CHANDONPOKPI VILLAGE CLAYS USING SEM-EDXS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DERMA-COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

Soil clays are layered materials with diverse particle properties that can be incorporated into various applications. Samples from different layers of Chandonpokpi S/T village in Tengnoupal District, Manipur (hilly area), were analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) after moisture removal by heating, followed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine their chemical composition. An elemental sum spectrum was also obtained to reveal the dominant and trace elements present in the soil samples. Differences in chemical composition, texture, particle size, and color were observed among the samples. The clays exhibited a pH range of 4.5 to 6.9. Particular attention is given to the pharmacological functions of these clays and their applications in pelotherapy, wound healing, regenerative medicine, antimicrobial treatments, and dermocosmetics.