Oxygen (18O/16O) and hydrogen (2H/1H) isotopic ratios were measured on 22 smectite separates from bentonite deposits of the Sierra de Gata and Serrata de Nijar, Almeria, Spain. In addition, 18O/16O and 2H/1H ratios were determined on some waters from springs and wells, and 18O/16O ratios were measured on quartz, plagioclase and biotite samples separated from the bentonites. The smectites displayed two distinct isotopic compositional groups which excluded an origin either by submarine alteration or weathering under normal surface conditions of the associated volcanic rocks. Bentonization processes caused by low-temperature fluids of meteoric origin could account for the stable isotopic contents. Argillization temperatures are estimated at ∼40°C and ∼70°C for the Serrata de Nijar and the Sierra de Gata deposits, respectively.

Three principal modes of formation are apparent for authigenic smectites in Recent marine sediments: alteration of volcanic rocks and glass, low-temperature combination of biogenic silica and Fe-oxyhydroxides, and direct precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. The latter two mechanisms are discussed with reference to new evidence from studies of sediments from the Bauer Deep of the equatorial eastern Pacific and the Atlantis II Deep in the Red Sea. In the Atlantis II Deep sediments, three sub-environments of smectite formation from hydrothermal fluids are recognized. In two of them nontronites are formed, whilst in the third an Fe-poor smectite, intermediate in composition between beidellite and montmorillonite, occurs.

The sorption and transformation of phenol, 2-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, 3,5-dimethylphenol, and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, by homoionic Na-, H-, Ca-, Cu-, Al-, and Fe(III)-montmorillonite from both vapour and aqueous phases were examined by IR spectroscopy. All the phenols were sorbed by the clays but were modified to different degrees depending on the exchangeable cations and on the amount and type of alkyl substitution of the phenols. Sorption of 2,6-dimethylphenol from aqueous solution was irreversible, and the extent of sorption followed the order Fe- > Al- > Cu- > Ca-clay. Both transition and non-transition metal cations were effective in transforming the phenol sorbates and heating the clay/phenol complexes further enhanced transformation. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the transformation products and the likely role of radical reactions in their formation.

Des études expérimentales sont réalisées afin de préciser les relations entre la vermiculitisation des biotites (ouverture par NaCl N) et les phénomènes d'oxydation (par l'eau ou par H2O2). Les évolutions sont suivies par diffraction des rayons X et en spectroscopie d'absorption infra-rouge; l'oxydation du fer est appréciée sur l'échantillon par spectroscopie Mössbauer. Les résultats montrent que si une certaine oxydation accompagne normalement la vermiculitisation, une oxydation intense provoque une expulsion de fer et la formation de vermiculite hydroxy ferrique.

Measurements of water desorption and sorption on four Ca-saturated illitic clays show that the shapes of the isotherms are very similar to those for other oxide surfaces, indicating that the formation of water multilayers is quantitatively similar. This enables graphs of multilayer thickness against mass sorbed to be drawn and used to assess microporosity. Hysteresis occurs and this is attributed to loss of external surface as drying brings platy particles in close face-to-face contact. Mixed-layer mica-smectites, however, exhibit no microporosity by this test and behave as if all surfaces are freely accessible to multilayer formation. The reason for this is not at present understood.

Water-sorption isotherms and interlamellar spacings were measured for Ca montmorillonite (from Redhill. UK) over the relative pressure range 1 > P/P0 > 0. By taking account of the change in interlamellar volume with relative pressure, it is shown that internal and external surfaces can be calculated by a modified t-plot analysis. The results also show that sorption on the external surfaces of the montmorillonite is quantitatively similar to that on reference oxide surfaces. Desorption-sorption hysteresis occurred and was apparently caused by an ageing process in which the interlamellar volume increased at the expense of the external surfaces.

Both aluminium substitution and poor crystallinity reduce the magnetic hyperfine field of goethite. Mössbauer spectra taken at 4·2 K show that the effect of poor crystallinity is similar to that of Al substitution, i.e. it reduces the saturation hyperfine field. A multiple correlation was found to exist between the magnetic hyperfine field at 4·2 K as a dependent variable vs Al substitution and crystallinity as independent variables. If a hyperfine field is to be interpreted with respect to either Al substitution or crystallinity, it is therefore necessary to have knowledge of the other variable.

The translatory and rotatory diffusion coefficients, electrophoretic mobility, permanent dipole moment, electrical polarizability and optical anisotropy factor for a crocidolite sol have all been measured in a single optical apparatus. Electrophoretic light-scattering and electrically-induced birefringence were the methods used, these being rapid and well-suited to particles in the micron and sub-micron size-range, where conventional electrophoresis is difficult. Electric birefringence offers a fast means of sizing mineral particles in suspension and the electrical polarizability and electrophoretic mobility have a common origin in such sols. This is discussed in terms of the surface-charge and electric double-layer characteristics of the particles.