Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:30:44.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transmission Electron Microscopy Evidence for Experimental Illitization of Smectite in K-Enriched Seawater Solution at 50°C and Basic pH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

A. Drief ,
F. Martinez-Ruiz ,
F. Nieto  and
N. Velilla Sanchez
A. Drief
Affiliation:
Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Granada-CSIC Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
F. Martinez-Ruiz
Affiliation:
Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Granada-CSIC Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
F. Nieto
Affiliation:
Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Granada-CSIC Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
N. Velilla Sanchez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Granada-CSIC Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
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.

Experimental illitization of smectite was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Experiments were performed on the <2 µm fraction consisting entirely of smectite separated from a soil formed on subvolcanic rock located in the External Zone of the Betic Cordilleras (southern Spain). Amounts of 0.25 g were added to different solutions: seawater, and three K-enriched seawater solutions prepared by adding KOH to seawater whose final [K] values were 0.1, 0.5 and 1 M, respectively. The experiments were performed at 50°C over a period of 30 days. The XRD patterns showed no mineralogical changes in residues from seawater or from the 0.1 M [K] solution. With increasing pH and K molarity, the smectite peak, initially at 1.4 nm, became broader. This change in the smectite peak was more significant in the residue from the 1 M [K] solution. The appearance of a small shoulder at 1.0 nm in the residue from a 0.5 M [K] solution showed the beginning of illite formation. However, its appearance was clearer in XRD patterns of the residue corresponding to the 1 M [K] solution. The XRD data from air-dried, glycolated, and heated samples from the 1 M [K] solution indicated the presence of smectite, disordered interstratified illite-smectite (I-S) and illite.

The TEM/AEM studies were performed on the residue corresponding to the 1 M [K] experiment. The HRTEM images revealed that smectite and illite occurred as separated packets with a ferroan lizardite, as a by-product of the smectite-to-illite reaction, interstratified and intergrown with illite. Smectite occurs both as ‘rims’ on the illite packet and in its core. The presence of smectite in the core of illite packet indicates that the lateral transition from smectite to illite was incomplete, taking place by direct replacement of smectite layers as a whole through a dissolution-precipitation mechanism. The experimental study shows that smectite may transform in a wide range of geological and artificial environments involving high-pH K-rich solutions.

Keywords

AEM AnalysisIllite-SmectiteIntergrowthLizarditeLow TemperaturePotassiumSeawater
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 50 , Issue 6 , December 2002 , pp. 746 - 756
Copyright
Copyright © 2002, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Abad-Ortega, M.M. and Nieto, F., (1995) Genetic and chemical relationships between berthierine, chlorite and cordierite in nodules associated to granitic pegmatites of Sierra Albarrana (Iberian Massif, Spain) Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 120 327–336 10.1007/BF00306511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahn, J.H. and Peacor, D.R., (1985) Transmission electron microscopic study of diagenetic chlorite in Gulf Coast argillaceous sediments Clays and Clay Minerals 33 228–236 10.1346/CCMN.1985.0330309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahn, J.H. and Peacor, D.R., (1989) Illite/smectite from Gulf Coast shales: a reappraisal of transmission electron microscope images Clays and Clay Minerals 37 542–546 10.1346/CCMN.1989.0370606.Google Scholar
Ahn, J.H. Peacor, D.R. and Coombs, D.S., (1988) Formation mechanisms of illite, chlorite and mixed layer illite-chlorite in Triassic volcanogenic sediments from the Southland Syncline, New Zealand Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 99 82–89 10.1007/BF00399368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Altaner, S.P. and Ylagan, R.F., (1997) Comparison of structural models of mixed-layer illite-smectite and reaction mechanisms of smectite illitization Clays and Clay Minerals 45 517–533 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andersson, K. Allard, B. Bengtsson, M. and Magnusson, B., (1989) Chemical composition of cement pore waters Cement and Concrete Research 19 327–332 10.1016/0008-8846(89)90022-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauer, A. and Velde, B., (1999) Smectite transformation in high molar KOH solutions Clay Minerals 34 259–273 10.1180/000985599546226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brindley, G.W., (1982) Chemical compositions of berthierines. A review Clays and Clay Minerals 30 153–155 10.1346/CCMN.1982.0300211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buatier, M. Peacor, D.R. and O’Neil, J.R., (1992) Smectiteillite transition in Barbados accretionary wedge sediments: TEM and AEM evidence for a dissolution/crystallization origin at low temperature Clays and Clay Minerals 40 65–80 10.1346/CCMN.1992.0400108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clauer, N. Środoń, J. Francu, J. and Šucha, V., (1997) K-Ar dating of illite fundamental particles separated from illitesmectite Clay Minerals 32 181–196 10.1180/claymin.1997.032.2.02.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuadros, J. and Linares, J., (1996) Experimental kinetic study of the smectite-to-illite transformation Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 60 439–453 10.1016/0016-7037(95)00407-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curtis, C.D., (1985) Clay mineral precipitation and transformation during burial diagenesis Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London A315 91–105 10.1098/rsta.1985.0031.Google Scholar
Dong, H. and Peacor, D.R., (1996) TEM observations of coherent stacking relations in smectite, I/S and illite of shales: evidence for MacEwan crystallites and dominance of 2M1 polytypism Clays and Clay Minerals 44 257–275 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dong, H. Peacor, D.R. and Freed, R.L., (1997) Phase-relations among smectite, R1 illite-smectite, and illite American Mineralogist 82 379–391 10.2138/am-1997-3-416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drief, A. and Nieto, F., (2000) Chemical composition of smectites formed in clastic sediments. Implications for the smectite-illite transformation Clay Minerals 35 665–678 10.1180/000985500547124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drief, A. Nieto, F. and Sánchez-Navas, A., (2001) Experimental clay-mineral formation from a subvolcanic rock by interaction with 1 M NaOH solution at room temperature Clays and Clay Minerals 49 92–106 10.1346/CCMN.2001.0490108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberl, D.D. Velde, B. and McCormick, T., (1993) Synthesis of illite-smectite from smectite at earth surface temperatures and high pH Clay Minerals 28 49–60 10.1180/claymin.1993.028.1.06.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Essene, E.J. and Peacor, D.R., (1995) Clay mineral thermometry: A critical perspective Clays and Clay Minerals 43 540–553 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freed, R.L. and Peacor, D.R., (1992) Diagenesis and the formation of authigenic illite-rich I/S crystals in the Gulf Coast shales: TEM study of clay separates Journal of Sedimentology and Petrology 62 220 234.Google Scholar
Hansen, P.L. and Lindgreen, H., (1989) Mixed-layer illite/smectite diagenesis in Upper Jurassic claystones from the north Sea and onshore Denmark Clay Minerals 24 197–213 10.1180/claymin.1989.024.2.07.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hover, V.C. Walter, L.M. Peacor, D.R. and Martini, A.M., (1995) K-uptake by smectite during early marine diagenesis in brackish and hypersaline depositional environments (abstract) 32nd Clay Minerals Society Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts 61.Google Scholar
Hower, J. Eslinger, E.V. Hower, M.E. and Perry, E.A., (1976) Mechanism of burial metamorphism of argillaceous sediments: 1. Mineralogical and chemical evidence Geological Society of American Bulletin 87 725–737 10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<725:MOBMOA>2.0.CO;2.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, W.-L. Longo, J.M. and Pevear, D.R., (1993) An experimentally derived kinetic model for smectite-to-illite conversion and its use as a geothermometer Clays and Clay Minerals 41 162–177 10.1346/CCMN.1993.0410205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inoue, A. Watanabe, T. Kohyama, N. and Brusewitz, A.M., (1990) Characterization of illitization of smectite in bentonite beds at Kinekulle, Sweden Clays and Clay Minerals 38 241–249 10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiang, W.T. Peacor, D.R. and Slack, J.F., (1992) Microstructures, mixed layering, and polymorphism of chlorites and retrograde berthierine in the Kidd Creek Massive sulfide deposits, Ontario Clays and Clay Minerals 40 501–514 10.1346/CCMN.1992.0400503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kim, J.W. Peacor, D.R. Tessier, D. and Elsass, F., (1995) A technique for maintaining texture and permanent expansion of smectite interlayers for TEM observations Clays and Clay Minerals 43 51–57 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirsimäe, K. Jørgensen, P. and Kalm, V., (1999) Low-temperature diagenetic illite-smectite in Lower Cambrian clays in North Estonia Clay Minerals 34 151–163 10.1180/000985599546000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, G. Mauk, J.L. and Peacor, D.R., (1995) Preservation of clay minerals in the Precambrian (1.1 Ga) Nonesuch Formation in the vicinity of the White Pine copper mine, Michigan Clays and Clay Minerals 43 361–376 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, G. Donald, R. Peacor, D.R. and Coombs, D.S., (1997) Transformation of smectite to illite in bentonite and associated sediments from Kaka Point, New Zealand: Contrast in rate and mechanism Clays and Clay Minerals 45 54–67 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longstaffe, F.J. Racki, M.A. Ayalon, A., Kharaka, Y.K. and Maest, A.S., (1992) Stable isotope studies of diagenesis in berthierine-bearing oil sands, Clearwater Formation, Alberta Water Rock Interaction, Moderate and High Temperature Environments Rotterdam, The Netherlands A. A. B alkema Pp. 955–958.Google Scholar
Lorimer, G.W. Cliff, G. and Wenk, H.R., (1976) Analytical electron micros copy of minerals Electron Microscopy in Mineralogy Pp. 506–519.Google Scholar
Lunden, I. and Andersson, K., (1989) Modeling the mixing of cement pore water and groundwater using the PHREEQE code Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings 127 949 956.Google Scholar
Masuda, H. O’Neil, J.R. Jiang, W.-T. and Peacor, D.R., (1996) Relation between interlayer composition of authigenic smectite, mineral assemblages, I/S reaction rates and fluid composition in silicic ash of the Nankai Trough Clays and Clay Minerals 44 443–459 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, D.M. and Reynolds, C.R. Jr., (1996) X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals New York Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Nadeau, P.H. Farmer, V.C. McHardy, W.J. and Bain, D.C., (1985) Compositional variations of the Unterrupsroth Beidellite American Mineralogist 70 1004 1010.Google Scholar
Nieto, F. Ortega-Huertas, M. Peacor, D.R. and Arostegui, J., (1996) Evolution of illite/smectite from early diagenesis through incipient metamorphism in sediments of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin Clays and Clay Minerals 44 304–323 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, R.C., Brindley, G.W. and Brown, G., (1980) Interstratified Clay Minerals Crystal Structure of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification London Mineralogical Society Pp. 249–303.Google Scholar
Shau, Y.-H. and Peacor, D.R., (1992) Phyllosilicates in hydrothermally altered basalts from DSDP Hole 504B, Leg 83-A TEM and AEM study Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 112 119–133 10.1007/BF00310959.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Środoń, J. Morgan, D.J. Eslinger, E.V. Eberl, D.D. and Karlinger, M.R., (1986) Chemistry of illite/smectite and end-member illite Clays and Clay Minerals 34 368–378 10.1346/CCMN.1986.0340403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veblen, D.R. and Buseck, P.R., (1992) Electron microscopy applied to non-stochiometry, polysomatism, and replacement reactions in minerals Minerals and Reactions at the Atomic Scale: Transmission Electron Microscopy Washington, D.C. Mineralogical Society of America Pp. 181–229.Google Scholar
Whitney, G., (1990) Role of water in the smectite to illite reaction Clays and Clay Minerals 38 343–350 10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitney, G. and Northrop, H.R., (1988) Experimental investigation of the smectite to illite reaction: dual reaction mechanisms and oxygen isotope systematics American Mineralogist 73 77 90.Google Scholar
Yau, Y.-C. Peacor, D.R. Essene, E.J. Lee, J.H. Kuo, L.C. and Cosca, M.A., (1987) Hydrothermal treatment of smectite, illite, and basalt to 460°C: Comparison of natural with hydrothermally formed clay minerals Clays and Clay Minerals 35 241–250 10.1346/CCMN.1987.0350401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar