The structural formula of Kozfikov saponite (Czechoslovakia) is as follows:

$N{a_{0.005}}C{a_{0.22}}{K_{0.01}}[S{i_{3.30}}A{l_{0.68}}F{e^{3 + }}{}_{0.02}][M{g_{2.50}}F{e^{2 + }}{}_{0.26}F{e^{3 + }}{}_{0.24}]{O_{10}}{(OH)_2}.$

A golden-colored, flaky mineral from Morro do Niquel, Minas Gerais, Brazil, gives an X-ray diffraction pattern of a IIb chlorite polytype, with basal spacing 14·21 ± 0·02 Å and b = 9·23 Å. Thermogravimetric analysis shows a progressive weight (water) loss up to 500°C, followed by a rapid weight loss corresponding to dehydroxylation of the interlayer material and a slower weight loss due to dehydroxylation of the 2:1 layer. The structural formula derived from the chemical analysis on the basis of O10 (OH)8, or total cation valence of +28, shows 5·3 total octahedral cations, i.e. probably 2·3 in the interlayers where normally 3 cations are found. This deficiency together with the appreciable loss of water below 500°C suggests a partially vermiculitized interlayer. A new method for deriving the interlayer composition gives R1·67(OH)4·08(H2O)0·59, and a ratio (OH + H2O)/R = 2·80, which approaches that of a dioctahedral interlayer and is consistent with a predominance of R3+ ions. The mineral may resemble the golden, vermiculitized biotite described by Walker and others.

Fabric refers to the spacial arrangement of clay particles in a sample relative to a reference plane. X-ray diffraction data yield an ‘amount of orientation’ (AO) that varies from zero for ideal random to 100 for ideally oriented fabric. The AO has been related to the average angle of inclination of clay particles to the reference plane.

Fabric data from 50 samples involving 2000 determinations are presented on the effects of: the method of sample preparation prior to one-dimensional consolidation; the magnitude of consolidation stress from 0·1 to over 1000 kg/cm2; changes in direction of consolidation stress; isotropic consolidation; and disturbance during removal of samples from oedometer cells. The single most important variable was the method of sample preparation, as illustrated by the following data on samples consolidated one-dimensionally to 1·5 kg/cm2:clay initially moist, AO = 27 per cent; air-dry clay, AO = 44 per cent; clay slurries, AO = 76–95 per cent. The change in fabric with increasing consolidation stress was most pronounced with samples at very low stresses, the changes in fabric were small for consolidation stress increments usually encountered in engineering practice.

Fabric data provide a very sensitive measure of sample disturbance. Extrusion causes significant disturbance at the center of a 24cm dia, sample cylinder.

Montmorillonite clay samples were coated with 16 m-equiv/g of clay or iron plus aluminum as hydrous oxides and aged 1 yr, in suspensions of pH 6 or 8. The magnesium exchange capacity (MgEC) decreased linearly with the amount of non-crystalline aluminum hydrous oxide associated with the clay. Eight to 16 m-equiv of iron per g of clay reduced the MgEC by 20 m-equiv/100g at pH 6, but did not affect the MgEC at pH 8. The quantity of non-crystalline aluminum associated with the clay depended on the suspension pH and aging time, and was unaffected by the coprecipitation of 8–16 m-equiv of iron hydrous oxide/g clay. The crystalline form of aluminum hydrous oxide depended on the suspension pH and was shown by X-ray diffraction to be gibbsite at pH 6 and bayerite at pH 8. Gibbsite and bayerite formed rapidly with a rate dependent on the suspension pH when excess non-crystalline aluminum hydrous oxides were present. The quantity of non-crystalline aluminum hydrous oxides remaining after one year in suspensions of iron hydrous oxides and montmorillonite varied from 2·3 m-equiv/g of montmorillonite at pH 8-4·0 m-equiv/g of montmorillonite at pH 6. Differential thermal analysis and MgEC measurements indicated some regular organization of the iron hydrous oxides, however, crystalline iron minerals were not detected by X-ray diffraction.

The formation of hematite from amorphous Fe(III)hydroxide in aqueous systems at pH 6 and 70°C, both with and without oxalate, was followed by kinetic measurements, electron microscopy, i.r. spectroscopy and thermal analysis.

In the absence of oxalate, small amorphous particles coalesce into aggregates which eventually become single crystals of hematite. When oxalate is present, crystal growth is much faster and does not proceed through the intermediate stage of aggregation. Aggregates, when formed, consist of groups of single crystals. It is suggested that oxalate accelerates the nucleation of hematite crystals by acting as a template, the Fe-Fe distance in Fe-oxalate ions being similar to that in hematite.

The distribution of clay minerals in Recent sediments can be explained by the relative stability of the clays. The rates of particle aggregation for three clays were determined in the laboratory in synthetic estuarine solutions; from the kinetic studies stability values were calculated. The results indicate that illite is more stable than kaolinite which is more stable than montmorillonite. The distribution of the clays in the Pamlico River Estuary can be explained on the basis of relative clay stability where kaolinite which aggregates rapidly (relatively unstable clay) is found upstream of illite.

Complexes of n-tetradecylammonium-beidellite with n-alkanols

${\rm{(n - }}{{\rm{C}}_{{\rm{14}}}}{{\rm{H}}_{{\rm{29}}}}{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{3}}}^{\rm{+}}{\rm{)_{{\rm{0,44}}}(n - C_{{\rm{x}}}}}{{\rm{H}}_{{\rm{2x}}}}{\rm{+}}{}_{\rm{1}}{\rm{OH) }}{}_{{\rm{1,56}}}{{\rm{\{ M}}{{\rm{g}}_{{\rm{0,28}}}}{\rm{A}}{{\rm{l}}_{{\rm{1,81}}}}{{\rm{(OH)}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}_{{\rm{3,56}}}}{\rm{Al}}{}_{{\rm{0,44}}}{\rm{O_{{10\}} }}}^{{\rm{0,44 - }}}}$

The compounds undergo a series of reversible phase transitions

${\beta _1} \rightleftharpoons...\rightleftharpoons{\beta_i}\rightleftharpoons...\rightleftharpoons{\beta_\omega}\rightleftharpoons{\alpha_1}...\rightleftharpoons{\alpha_j}$

The β-transitions correspond to conformational changes of the alkyl chains via rotational isomerisation, especially kink formation. The β-phases become unstable if the kink concentration exceeds 0,14 kinks/-CH2-. The β/α-transition is probably caused by a rearrangement into special gauche-block structures.

Mineralogical reactions in the system Al2O3-SiO2-H2O are examined and an isothermal, isobaric cross-section of the portion of the system applicable to soil genesis, is determined. The relevance of the cross-section to soil mineralogy is discussed.

Ethylenediamine (EDA) is adsorbed from aqueous solution on Na-, K- and Li-montmorillonite as the monoprotonated cation (EDAH+) through an ion-exchange process. On washing with distilled water the second amine function is protonated—probably through dissociation of water near the clay surface—and simultaneously formed alkali hydroxide is removed.

In air-dried clay films, prepared from unwashed suspensions, EDA is retained mainly through hydrogen-bonding with water co-ordinated to the exchangeable cation.

EDA adsorbed from the vapour phase is retained through co-ordination, either direct or indirect (i.e. through a ‘water-bridge’), depending on the hydration properties of the exchangeable cation. Indirect coordination increases the stability of the amino-clay complex against atmospheric humidity and heating in vacuum in the order K+ < Na+ < Li+.

Upon heating co-ordinated EDA is almost completely desorbed, whereas EDAH+ and EDAH22+ decompose above 160°C to form NH4+.

A comparison is made of the ion exchange behavior, towards the cobalt ion, of five sodium montmorillonite clays. The selectivity for the bivalent ion at low cobalt loading is correlated with the average dimensions of the particles in the various clays, as characterized by several methods. The data are interpreted in terms of a higher selectivity of the bivalent ions for the broken bonds located at the edges of the clay crystals. Using a model comprising two areas of different charge densities, the experimental differences in behavior can be predicted reasonably well.