The adsorption of organic ions derived from ammonium, containing aromatic and saturated rings, was studied using different techniques. The ions with acid character produced a complicated set of reactions including aluminium extraction, proton adsorption, a real ion-exchange with the organic ions and an excess adsorption of ammonium salts. With non-acidic compounds only a stoichiometric ion-exchange process was observed. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the orientation of the organic ions and to characterize the nature of the co-adsorbed organic material.

An unusual chlorite has been collected from amygdales in Miocene volcanic rock found at Taiheizan, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The mineral shows subtle variations from other chlorites and related minerals. These are: (a) no apparent expansion with water or ethylene glycol, (b) negligible or no collapse after NH4-saturation or heating at about 300°C, (c) a slow decrease in the basal spacing on heating from approximately 400°C to 760°C, (d) a small amount of low temperature or capillary water and (e) a DTA curve with a vermiculite-like system of peaks.

The mineral is identified as a highly chloritic vermiculite with a small proportion of imperfect hydroxy interlayer.

The distribution of 2:1-2:2 intergrade clays has been investigated in some podzolized soils from Norway. In some of the profiles the intergrade clay mineral appears to be concentrated in the A2 horizon; in others, where smectite is predominant in the surface horizon, the maximum accumulation of the intergrade is observed in the B2 horizon. Smectite and vermiculite have been found to be the precursors of the intergrades of the A2 and B2 horizons respectively. A possible explanation to account for the observed variable pattern of occurrence of intergrades in soils is suggested.

The less than 10 μm and less than 3 μm fractions of the heterogenous Haldon Gravels have been examined by X-ray diffractometry. Kaolinite of high to low crystallinity is the dominant clay mineral, with variable amounts of illite (clay mica) ; quartz, a little feldspar and anatase also occur. The kaolinite has been ranked using the crystallinity index of Hinckley and also by indices derived from the ratio of peak height to background height for the 10 and 11 peaks.

Clay from the matrix of the psaphitic members of the Buller's Hill Gravel contains intermediate grade kaolinite with a little illite, but clay bodies included in this formation contain only low grade kaolinite with a high, but variable proportion of illite. The Tower Wood Gravel contains two distinct populations; one is identical to that of the Buller's Hill Gravel, the other consists of high crystallinity kaolinite with a little illite. Head Gravel formed from the Buller's Hill Gravel by solifluction contains intermediate to low crystallinity kaolinite.

Three semi-empirical equations are derived to characterize the performance of the nozzle discharge centrifuge as a thickener for flocculated kaolinite slurries. The first equation relates mass throughput to machine size and speed, the number and size of nozzles and the product concentration. The second equation relates the maximum clear effluent rate to the settling characteristics of the slurry and to machine parameters. The third equation relates power consumption to product and effluent rates and to machine parameters. Finally a numerical example of the use of the equations is given.

Alternating 'hard' and 'soft' bands at close intervals are exhibited by the slope faces of brick-pits in the Lower Oxford Clay which have been subjected to prolonged exposure. This phenomenon was investigated to evaluate the geotechnical properties which were significant in its development. The results of laboratory tests indicate that the alteration or short-term weathering characteristics of clay-shales may be influenced by the higher degree of preferred orientation of the clay-mineral component, in inducing a stronger inter-particle bond in 'hard' samples which inhibits weathering.