Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-bvgqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T16:12:05.383Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Crystallinity of Minerals—A New Variable in Pedogenetic Processes: A Study of Goethite and Associated Silicates in Laterites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

R. A. Kühnel ,
H. J. Roorda  and
J. J. Steensma
R. A. Kühnel
Affiliation:
Department of Mining Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
H. J. Roorda
Affiliation:
Department of Mining Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
J. J. Steensma
Affiliation:
Department of Mining Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The crystallinity of minerals in terms of crystallite size distribution and lattice perfection is quantified by means of statistical measures derived from X-ray line profiles (2 σ values). A low degree of crystallinity facilitates the non-stoichiometric incorporation of foreign elements in the crystal lattice. Crystallinity is affected by a number of factors and in natural profiles it may vary laterally as well as vertically.

For instance, goethite in laterite deposits shows decreasing crystallinity with increasing depth. Serpentine type minerals, on the other hand, show the lowest crystallinity at the surface where the degree of weathering is the most advanced. The presence of silica in migrating solutions prevents crystal growth and results in a low degree of crystallinity of minerals such as goethite. This has been observed in natural profiles and has been confirmed by laboratory experiments on the synthesis of goethite and sodium-birnessite. The crystallinity of minerals affects their response to extractive procedures. It could also be an important parameter in soil science.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , October 1975 , pp. 349 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © 1975, 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.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Arnold, R. W., (1967) Application of clay crystallite-size in soil genesis studies Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 74 122–129.Google Scholar
Bragg, W. H. and Bragg, W. L., (1933) The Crystalline State I 188–192.Google Scholar
Carr, R. M. and Fyfe, W. S., (1958) Some observation on the crystallization of amorphous silica Am. Miner. 43 908–916.Google Scholar
Correns, C. W. van Engelhardt, W., Correns, C. W. and Thiel, R., (1942) Reference cited Nachr. Akad. Wiss. Göttingen, Math. Phys. Kl. 131–137.Google Scholar
Correns, C. W. and Thiel, R. (1963) Zum System α-Fe OOH-αAl OOH: Naturwissenschaften 50, 16.Google Scholar
Huang, W. H., (1973) The influence of organic acids on dissolution, transformation, and deposition of minerals Symposium The Chemistry of Sedimentary and Diagenetic Processes .Google Scholar
Janot, Ch., (1971) Etude des substitutions Al-Fe dans des roches latéritiques Bull. Soc. Fr. Min. Crist. 94 367–389.Google Scholar
Jones, F. W., (1937) The measurement of particle size by the X-ray method Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 166A 16–43.Google Scholar
Kochendörfer, A., (1944) The determination of particle size and lattice distortions in crystalline materials from the breadths of X-ray lines Z. Krist. 105 393–480.Google Scholar
Kübier, B., (1968) Evaluation quantitative dy métamorphisme par la cristallimté de l’illite Bull. Centre Rech. S.N.P.A., Pau 2 385–397.Google Scholar
Kühnel, R. A., van Hüten, D. and Roorda, H. J. The crystallinity of minerals in alteration profiles: an example on goethite in laterite profiles: Delft Progr. Rep. Series E: Geosciences 1, 1–8.Google Scholar
Landa, E. R. and Gast, R. G., (1973) Evaluation of crystallinity in hydrated ferric oxides Clays and Clay Minerals 21 121–130.10.1346/CCMN.1973.0210208CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKenzie, R. M., (1971) The synthesis of birnessite, cryptomelane, and some other oxides and hydroxides of manganese Miner. Mag. 38 493–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nalovic, L. and Pinta, M. Comportement de fer en présence des éléments de transition: C.r. Acad. Sci., Paris 275, 153–156.Google Scholar
Norrish, K. and Taylor, R. M., (1961) The isomorphous replacement of iron by aluminium in soil goethites J. Soil Sci. 12 294–306.10.1111/j.1365-2389.1961.tb00919.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Queneau, P. E., (1971) Cobalt and the Nickeliferous Limonites The Netherlands University of Delft.Google Scholar
Roorda, H. J. and Queneau, P. E., (1973) Recovery of nickel and cobalt from limonites by aqueous chlorination in sea water Trans. Inst. Mining Met. C82 79–87.Google Scholar
Schwertmann, U. and Taylor, R. M., (1972) The transformation of lepidocrocite to goethite Clays and Clay Minerals 20 151–158.10.1346/CCMN.1972.0200306CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwertmann, U. and Taylor, R. M., (1972) The influence of silicate on the transformation of lepidocrocite to goethite Clays and Clay Minerals 20 159–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwertmann, U., (1966) Zur Göthit- und Hämatitbildung aus amorphem Eisen (III)-Hydroxid Z. Pflern. Bodenk. 108 37–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schellmann, W., (1974) Personal communication .Google Scholar