A new method has been developed for quantifying smectite abundance by sorbing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on smectite particles dispersed in aqueous solution. The sorption density of PVP-55K on a wide range of smectites, illites and kaolinites is ∼0.99 mg/m2, which corresponds to ∼0.72 g of PVP-55K per gram of montmorillonite. Polyvinylpyrrolidone sorption on smectites is independent of layer charge and solution pH. PVP sorption on SiO2, Fe2O3 and ZnO normalized to the BET surface area is similar to the sorption densities on smectites. γ-Al2O3, amorphous Al(OH)3 and gibbsite have no PVP sorption over a wide range of pH, and sorption of PVP by organics is minimal. The insensitivity of PVP sorption densities to mineral layer charge, solution pH and mineral surface charge indicates that PVP sorption is not localized at charged sites, but is controlled by more broadly distributed sorption mechanisms such as Van der Waals’ interactions and/or hydrogen bonding. Smectites have very large surface areas when dispersed as single unit-cell-thick particles (∼725 m2/g) and usually dominate the total surface areas of natural samples in which smectites are present. In this case, smectite abundance is directly proportional to PVP sorption. In some cases, however, the accurate quantification of smectite abundance by PVP sorption may require minor corrections for PVP uptake by other phases, principally illite and kaolinite. Quantitative XRD can be combined with PVP uptake measurements to uniquely determine the smectite concentration in such samples.

The first occurrence of Ni-rich stevensite found in the ophiolite complex of Othrys, Central Greece is described. The stevensite, which develops in cracks in a host serpentinite, formed at the expense of serpentine. Two varieties of stevensite have been described: a Mg-rich, Ni-poorer variety with 0.4–1.2 octahedral Ni atoms per half formula unit (p.h.f.u.) and a Ni-rich variety with >2 Ni atoms p.h.f.u. The layer charge in both varieties is −0.24 p.h.f.u.. Stevensite layers are completely separated when dispersed in dilute polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solutions and begin to convert to talc after heating at 250°C for 90 min. Total conversion to talc is observed at 550°C. Formation of Ni-rich stevensite took place at ambient temperature during supergene processes. The scarcity of Ni-rich stevensite occurrences in nature is attributed to the metastability of smectite and to the analytical procedures used in previous studies. Stevensite is considered a phase containing domains with variable numbers of octahedral vacancies. A new experimental protocol is proposed for the determination of Ni-rich stevensite, based on a combination of XRD after solvation with various organic liquids and subsequent heating at 750°C.

Tail-cut bovine spermatozoa were microinjected into ooplasmic lipid polarised, in vitro matured bovine oocytes using a piezomicropipette-driving system. No exogenous oocyte activation treatment was used. Of the sperm-injected oocytes, 86.3% were activated, 71.8% cleaved and 22.7% developed to the blastocyst stage. The average cell count of the blastocysts was 122.5 ± 15 and a majority (81.8%) of the blastocysts were cytologically normal (diploid). When transferred to recipient cows, 5 of 8 blastocysts developed to fetuses and 4 of 7 recipients became pregnant. Normal offspring were born.