A Preliminary Evaluation of Otamiri River Sands for the Production of Plain Glass

Grain-size distribution and chemical analyses were carried out on four sand samples randomly taken from the bank of Otamiri River around Chokocho and Umuanyaga, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State. This was done to assess the purity and suitability of the sands for the making of plain glass. Results of grain-size analysis show that 86% of the sand particles fall between 0.125mm and 1.2mm, which is within the ideal sand fraction range used for glass making. Chemical analysis shows the sand to contain more than 99% silica (SiO2), very low content of iron (0.0017 to 0.0039ppm), chromium (0.000022 to 0.000032ppm), titanium (0.049 to 0.066ppm) and calcium (0.000001 to 0.000003ppm). Others include Aluminium (0.00126 to 0.0103ppm), potassium (0.0002 to 0.0042ppm), Magnesium (0.0001 to 0.0002ppm), and Sodium (0.005 to 0.038ppm). The concentration levels of these elements in the samples conform with internationally acceptable standards for glass production.