Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2024
The statistical techniques of multiple regression analysis have been used to obtain more reliable formulae relating the cell dimensions especially the b-axis) of layer-lattice silicates to their composition or structural formulae. This allowed the significance of each coefficient to be expressed precisely and so provided rigorous tests for certain structural concepts about the different factors affecting cell dimensions. More recently an explicit theory has been developed about the various forces controlling the layer-lattice silicate structures which (a) removes some anomalies, (b) explains many variations in accurate bond lengths and angles, and (c) has several interesting structural implications for properties such as polymorphism, composition limits, crystal morphology, and stability under weathering. This paper summarizes work now being published in extenso elsewhere.