Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T18:05:57.176Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of Exchangeable Cation on X-Ray Diffraction Patterns and Thermal Behavior of a Montmorillonite Clay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Richard C. Mielenz
Affiliation:
Petrographic Laboratory, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, USA
N. Cyril Schieltz
Affiliation:
Petrographic Laboratory, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, USA
Myrle E. King
Affiliation:
Petrographic Laboratory, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, USA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A stratum of bentonite in the North Park (?) formation near Granby, Colorado, is composed largely of a dioctahedral Ca-montmorillonite whose formula is calculated to be $\left( {A{l_{2.84}}F{e_{0.50}}M{g_{0.72}}M{n_{0.04}}} \right)\left( {\mathop {A{l_{0.40}}S{i_{7.60}}}\limits^{\mathop \uparrow \limits^{{X_{0.86}}} } } \right){O_{20}}{\left( {OH} \right)_4}.$

Na+, K+, Li+, H+, NH4+, Ca++, and Mg++ modifications were stored at 52 percent relative humidity and at 105° C-110° C. Results of X-ray diffraction, differential thermal, and thermal balance analysis depend upon the exchangeable cation and prior treatment. As with many montmorillonoids, d(001) = 22.7−30.1 Å under room conditions; ao = 5.20 Å and b0= 9.00 Å. The (001 ) interference indicates that the unit cell typically includes two packets, or possibly more, which may be derived geometrically from each other by a glide of 1.73 Å along (110) and 180° rotation. Weight loss above 190° C-3670 C exceeds that indicated by the Hofmann structure but conforms reasonably with loss indicated by a structure after that proposed by Edelman. Inverted Si-O tetrahedra are presumed to equal the number of univalent cations

It is suggested that the exchangeable cations form hydroxides during thermal analysis by reaction with (OH) at the apex of inverted Si-0 tetrahedra. The resulting H2O and NH4OH are lost during thermal analysis, thus explaining excessive weight loss. Ca (OH)2 and Mg(OH)2 so produced release one mole of H2O during thermal analysis. KOH, NaOH, and LiOH are not decomposed below 1,000° C.

Thermal products vary with exchangeable cation and crystallinity increases with prior drying. The Li+ and Ca++ modifications produce beta-quartz and alpha-cristobalite with spinel and glass, whereas the other modifications produce only spinel and glass.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Clay Minerals Society 1954

References

Barshad, Isaac (1950) The effect of the interlayer cations on the expansion of the mica type of crystal lattice: Am. Mineral., vol. 35, pp. 225238.Google Scholar
Cornet, I. (1943) Sorption of NH3 on montmorillonite clay: Jour. Chem. Physics, vol. 11, pp. 217226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edelman, C. H. (1947) Relation entre les propriétés et la structure de quelques minéraux argileux: Verre et Silicates, vol. 12, pp. 36.Google Scholar
Edelman, C. H., and Favajee, J. C. L. (1940) On the crystal structure of montmorillonite and halloysite: Zeitschr. Krist., vol. 102A, pp. 417431.Google Scholar
Glasstone, Samuel (1946) Textbook of physical chemistry: D. van Nostrand Co., New York, N.Y., Second Edition, 1320 pp.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E., Bradley, W. F., and Brown, G. (1951) The mica clay minerals. Chapter V of X-ray identification and crystal structures of clay minerals, edited by Brindley, G. W.: The Mineralogical Soc., London, England, pp. 138172.Google Scholar
Hofmann, Ulrich; Endell, Kurd; and Wilm, Diederich (1933) Krisiallstruktur und quellung von montmorillonit: Zeitschr. Krist., vol. 86A, pp. 340347.Google Scholar
Hofmann, Ulrich; Endell, Kurd; and Wilm, Diederich (1934) Röntgenographische und kolloidschemische Untersuchungen über Ton: Zeitschr. Angew. Chemie, vol. 47, pp. 539547.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lipson, H., and Cochran, W. (1953) The crystalline state, Vol. III, The determination of crystal structures: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., London, England, 345 pp.Google Scholar
MacEwan, D. M. C. (1951) The montmorillonite minerals (montmorillonoids), Chapter IV of X-ray identification and crystal structures of clay minerals, edited by Brindley, G. W.: The Mineralogical Soc., London, England, pp. 86137.Google Scholar
McConnell, Duncan (1950) The crystal chemistry of montmorillonite: Am. Mineral., vol. 35, pp. 166172.Google Scholar
McConnell, Duncan (1951) The crystal chemistry of montmorillonite: Clay Minerals Bull., vol. 1, pp. 179188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mielenz, R. C., Schieltz, N. C, and King, M. E. (1954) Thermo gravimetric analysis of clay and clay-like minerals: Second National Clay Minerals Conference, Proc., pp. 285314.Google Scholar
Richards, L. A. (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. 60, 160 pp.Google Scholar
Smith, J. V. (1954) A review of the Al-O and Si-O distances: Acta Cryst., vol. 7, pp. 479481.Google Scholar
Winkler, H. G. F. (1943) Kristallstruktur von montmorillonite: Zeitschr. Krist, vol. 105A, pp. 291303.Google Scholar