The Abu Ziran area is easily accessible following the Quseir-Qift asphaltic road in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Microscopically and geochemically, the granodiorite rock represents a good source for the major oxides that are contained in its mineral components: quartz, oligoclase, orthoclase, microcline, biotite and hornblende as its essential minerals; besides sphene, zircon, apatite and magnetite as its accessory minerals. These minerals represent suitable raw materials in the formulation of the low cost ceramic product.
The low cost ceramic materials were prepared from mixing wastes of granodiorite and talc quaries in the Eastern Desert, Egypt. Four samples were prepared in the 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 and 40:60 ratios of granodiorite:talc. After sintering process of the green ceramic samples up to 1300 C, aluminum enstatite, kyanite, pyrope and cristobalite were developed. The microstructure of the sintered samples show rod-like crystals in micron and submicron size oriented or disoriented in glassy matrix. The samples enjoy good densities between 1.65 and 2.21 g/cm3 and porosity ratio between 18.01 and 39.27 %. This low cost ceramic product can be used in insulation for heat and sound.