Potential Use of the Bakari (Adamawa–Cameroon) Quartzites as Sand Filters.

Primary stage of water treatment for the human drink or for the consumption of the industry is sand filtration. This study aimed to examine the potential use of the Bakari quarzitic rocks in Lom series (Adamawa–Cameroon) as sand filters usable as import-substitute materials. Petrographically, two types of quartzite notably quartzite with coarse-grained of quartz and quartzite with fine-grained of quartz were localized in the field. These quarzitic rocks have silica contents higher than 80%. Their sand fraction is characterized physicochemical by effective size (D₁₀) equal to 0.9 mm and uniformity coefficient (UC) equal to 1.6 mm. Their water content ranges from 0.25 to 0.51 wt%, whereas loss on ignition (LOI) and acid loss are less than 2%. With those characteristics and the smallest turbidity values after sand filtration, the Bakari quarzitic sands are efficient and are suitable as sand filters for water for human drink or for the consumption of the industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]