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CLAY PROFILING: THE CLASSIFICATION OF MONTMORILLONITES

Katja Emmerich^1,2,*, Felicitas Wolters^2,, Guenter Kahr³ and Gerhard Lagaly⁴

¹ Competence Center for Material Moisture, University of Karlsruhe, c/o Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, ITC-WGT, P.O. Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
² Institute for Technical Chemistry, Water and Geotechnology Division, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, PO Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
³ ETH Zurich, Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Schafmattstr. 6, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
⁴ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Kiel, D24098 Kiel, Germany

^* E-mail address of corresponding author: katja.emmerich{at}itc-wgt.fzk.de

Montmorillonites, with the general composition M_x⁺(Si_4–yAl_y)[(Al,Fe³⁺)_2–z(Mg,Fe²⁺)_z] O₁₀(OH)₂ where x = = 0.2–0.6, x = y+z, and y<<z, vary widely in composition and structure. The commonly used classification into five montmorillonite and two beidellite groups for the solid-solution sequence does not allow an unambiguous classification with respect to structural features and the resulting properties.

The smectite structure reveals five features that allow an unambiguous description of a sample: (1) identification as either a dioctahedral or a trioctahedral smectite; (2) layer charge; (3) charge distribution between tetrahedral and octahedral sheets; (4) cation distribution within the octahedral sheet; and (5) Fe content. In addition, the nature of interlayer cations should be given as they influence certain properties of montmorillonites. Analytical methods are now available to measure and determine these structural features. Therefore, a precise classification for montmorillonites requires determination of layer charge and exchangeable cations, analysis of chemical composition, and thermal analysis (to determine the octahedral structure), in addition to X-ray diffraction analysis.

A comprehensive classification of montmorillonites based on these parameters is proposed. Ninety-six structural variations (expressed by systematic names) theoretically exist within the montmorillonite–beidellite series. Descriptive names can be used to elucidate the macroscopic properties of the montmorillonite samples in question.

Key Words: 2:1 Layer Silicates • Cis-vacant • Classification • Dioctahedral • Layer Charge • Montmorillonite • Smectite • Trans-vacant

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