Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-19T15:00:49.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evolution of Fundamental-Particle Size during Illitization of Smectite and Implications for Reaction Mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

J. Środoń ,
D. D. Eberl  and
V. A. Drits
J. Środoń*
Affiliation:
Institute of Geological Sciences PAN, Senacka 1, 31002 Kraków, Poland
D. D. Eberl
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine St., Boulder, Colorado 80303-1066, USA
V. A. Drits
Affiliation:
Institute of Geology RAN, Pyzhevsky 7, 109017 Moscow, Russia
*
E-mail of corresponding author: ndsrodon@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Area-weighted thickness distributions of fundamental illite particles for samples of illite and illite-smectite from seven locations (including bentonites and hydrothermally altered pyroclastics) were measured by Pt-shadowing technique, by transmission electron microscopy. Most thickness distributions are described by lognormal distributions, which suggest a unique crystallization process. The shapes of lognormal distributions of fundamental illite particles can be calculated from the distribution mean because the shape parameters α and β2 are interrelated: β2= 0.107α − 0.03. This growth process was simulated by the mathematical Law of Proportionate Effect that generates lognormal distributions. Simulations indicated that illite particles grow from 2-nm thick illite nuclei by surface-controlled growth, i.e., the rate of growth is restricted by how rapid crystallization proceeds given a near infinite supply of reactants, and not by the rate of supply of reactants to the crystal surface. Initially formed, 2-nm thick crystals may nucleate and grow within smectite interlayers from material produced by dissolution of single smectite 2:1 layers, thereby transforming the clay from randomly interstratified (Reichweite, R = 0) to ordered (R = 1) illite-smectite after the smectite single layers dissolve. In this initial period of illite nucleation and growth, during which expandable layers range from 100 to 20%, illite crystals grow parallel to [001]* direction, and the dimensions of the (001) plane are confined to the size of the original smectite 2:1 layers. After nucleation ceases, illite crystals may continue to grow by surface-controlled growth, and the expandable-layer content ranges from 20 to 0%. This latter period of illitization is characterized by three-dimensional growth. Other crystal-growth mechanisms, such as Ostwald ripening, supply-controlled growth, and the coalescence of smectite layers, do not produce the observed evolution of α and β2and the observed shapes of crystal thickness distributions.

Keywords

Crystal GrowthFundamental ParticleIllite-SmectiteIllitization MechanismLognormal DistributionOstwald Ripening
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , August 2000 , pp. 446 - 458
Copyright
Copyright © 2000, The Clay Minerals Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Altaner, S.P. and Ylagan, R.F., 1997 Comparison of structural models of mixed-layer illite/smectite and reaction mechanisms of smectite illitization Clays and Clay Minerals 45 517–533 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Altaner, S.P. Weiss, C.A. and Kirkpatrick, R.J., 1988 Evidence from 29Si NMR for the structure of mixed-layer illite/smectite clay minerals Nature 331 699–702 10.1038/331699a0.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benjamin, J.R. and Cornell, C.A., 1970 Probability and Decision for Civil Engineers New York McGraw Hill Book Co..Google Scholar
Clauer, N. Środoń, J. Francu, J. and Šucha, V., 1997 K-Ar dating of illite fundamental particles separated from illite-smectite Clay Minerals 32 181–196 10.1180/claymin.1997.032.2.02.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuadros, J. and Altaner, S.P., 1998 Characterization of mixed-layer illite-smectite from bentonites using microscopic, chemical, and X-ray methods: Constraints on the smectite-to-illite transformation mechanism American Mineralogist 83 762–774 10.2138/am-1998-7-808.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drits, V.A. Środoń, J. and Eberl, D.D., 1997 XRD measurement of mean illite crystallite thickness: Reappraisal of the Kubler index and the Scherrer equation Clays and Clay Minerals 45 461–475 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drits, V.A. Eberl, D.D. and Środoń, J., 1998 XRD measurement of mean thickness, thickness distribution and strain for illite and illite/smectite crystallites by the Bertaut-Warren-Averbach technique Clays and Clay Minerals 46 461–475 10.1346/CCMN.1998.0460105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberl, D.D. and Środoń, J., 1988 Ostwald ripening and interparticle diffraction effects for illite crystals American Mineralogist 73 1335–1345.Google Scholar
Eberl, D.D. Środoń, J. Lee, M. Nadeau, P.H. and Northrop, H.R., 1987 Sericite from the Silverton caldera, Colorado: Correlation among structure, composition, origin, and particle thickness American Mineralogist 72 914–935.Google Scholar
Eberl, D.D. Środoń, J. Kralik, M. Taylor, B. and Peterman, Z.E., 1990 Ostwald ripening of clays and metamorphic minerals Science 248 474–477 10.1126/science.248.4954.474.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberl, D.D. Drits, V.A. and Środoń, J., 1998 Deducing growth mechanisms for minerals from the shapes of crystal size distributions American Journal of Science 298 499–533 10.2475/ajs.298.6.499.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberl, D.D. Nüesch, R. Šucha, V. and Tsipursky, S., 1998 Measurement of fundamental illite particle thickness by X-ray diffraction using PVP-10 intercalation Clays and Clay Minerals 46 89–97 10.1346/CCMN.1998.0460110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inoue, A. and Kitagawa, R., 1994 Morphological characteristics of illitic clay minerals from a hydrothermal system American Mineralogist 79 700–711.Google Scholar
Inoue, A. Kohyama, N. Kitagawa, R. and Watanabe, T., 1987 Chemical and morphological evidence for the conversion of smectite to illite Clays and Clay Minerals 35 111–120 10.1346/CCMN.1987.0350203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inoue, A. Velde, B. Meunier, A. and Touchard, G., 1988 Mechanism of illite formation during smectite-to-illite conversion in a hydrothermal system American Mineralogist 73 1325–1334.Google Scholar
Jennings, S. and Thompson, G.R., 1986 Diagenesis of Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the Colorado River delta, southern California Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 56 89–98.Google Scholar
Jiang, W.-T. Peacor, D.R. Arkai, P. Toth, M. and Kim, J.W., 1997 TEM and XRD determination of crystallite size and lattice strain as a function of illite crystallinity in pelitic rocks Journal of Metamorphic Geology 15 267–281 10.1111/j.1525-1314.1997.00016.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kapteyn, J.C., 1903 Skew Frequency Curves in Biology and Statistics .Google Scholar
Lanson, B. and Champion, D., 1991 The I/S-to-illite reaction in the late stage diagenesis American Journal of Science 291 473–506 10.2475/ajs.291.5.473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadeau, P.H., 1985 The physical dimensions of fundamental clay particles Clay Minerals 20 499–514 10.1180/claymin.1985.020.4.06.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadeau, P.H., 1987 Relations between the mean area, volume and thickness for dispersed particles of kaolinites and micaceous clays and their application to surface area and ion exchange properties Clay Minerals 22 351–356 10.1180/claymin.1987.022.3.10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadeau, P.H. Wilson, M.J. McHardy, W.J. and Tait, J.M., 1984 Interstratified clays as fundamental particles Science 225 923–935 10.1126/science.225.4665.923.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reynolds, R.C. Jr., 1992 X-ray diffraction studies of illite/smectite from rocks, <1 μm randomly oriented powders, and <1 μm oriented powder aggregates: The absence of laboratory induced artifacts Clays and Clay Minerals 40 387–396 10.1346/CCMN.1992.0400403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, R.C. Jr., 1985 NEWMOD, a Computer Program for the Calculation of Basal X-Ray Diffraction Intensities of Mixed-Layered Clays .Google Scholar
Środoń, J. Morgan, D.J. Eslinger, E.V. Eberl, D.D. and Karlinger, M.R., 1986 Chemistry of illite/smectite and end-ember illite Clays and Clay Minerals 34 368–378 10.1346/CCMN.1986.0340403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Środoń, J. Andreoli, C. Elsass, E. and Robert, M., 1990 Direct high-resolution transmission electron microscopic measurement of expandability of mixed-layer illite/smectite in bentonite rock Clays and Clay Minerals 38 373–379 10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Środoń, J. Elsass, F. McHardy, W.J. and Morgan, D.J., 1992 Chemistry of illite-smectite inferred from TEM measurements of fundamental particles Clay Minerals 27 137–158 10.1180/claymin.1992.027.2.01.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Šucha, V. Kraus, I. Gerthofferova, H. Petes, J. and Serekova, M., 1993 Smectite to illite conversion in bentonites and shales of the East Slovak Basin Clay Minerals 28 243–253 10.1180/claymin.1993.028.2.06.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Šucha, V. Środoń, J. Elsass, F. and McHardy, W.J., 1996 Particle shape versus coherent scattering domain of illite/smectite: Evidence from HRTEM of Dolna Ves clays Clays and Clay Minerals 44 665–671 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viczián, I., 1997 Hungarian investigations of the “Zempleni” illite Clays and Clay Minerals 45 114–115 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar