Utilization of granite-basalt fine quarry waste in a ceramic floor tile mixture

The growing demand of ceramic tiles, the constriction of natural resources of feldspar as a raw material, solving environmental problem of piling fine quarry waste and finally, an economic saving in production costs were the targets that directed this research work through gradual replacement of feldspar by the granite-basalt fine quarry waste from a site near Hurgada in Egypt. The total replacement of feldspar by this waste represents 40 % by weight of the mixture suitable for manufacturing normal and heavy duty, either glazed or non-glazed floor tiles, conforming to Egyptian standards. The experimental program investigated 5 mixtures of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 % replacement. Samples were fired at 1175°C for 5, 10 and 15 min soaking time. The investigation includes chemical analysis and XRD of basic mixture and the waste, the physical properties and XRD and then petrographic investigation of fired samples.