Evaluación de la actividad puzolánica del material arcilloso del depósito La Delta Moa, Cuba.

Natural clayey materials from La Delta deposit located in Moa, Holguin was characterized through the techniques of atomic absorption spectrometry, X ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy to determine the puzzolanic activity. The clay thermal activation was completed at 650 °C and 750 °C. The calcination products were characterized through the grain size analysis and the specific surface in a particle analyzer. The compression resistance of the activated material was determined in the Portland cement/calcined clay system with a 70/30 ratio. The main chemical components identified were as follow: silicon dioxide; aluminum and iron associated to the mineral phases contained in the clayey material. The material obtained is a puzzolanic material with a high reactivity. This indicates that it has potential for use as a partial replacement for cement taking into account that its resistance is 75 % higher than that of the reference product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]