Origin of fibrous clays in Tunisian Paleogene continental deposits

This paper presents mineralogical and geochemical data from several continental sequences located in Central (Ain Ghréwiss and Kébar) and Central-Southern Tunisia (Selja, Kef Schefeir, Shib, Oum El Kcheb and Haidoudi). These sequences vary in age from Late Palaeocene to Early Oligocene and contain considerable quantities of fibrous clays (up to 75% palygorskite and 90% sepiolite). These clays appear in assocation with carbonates (mainly dolomite), detrital aluminosilicates (illite, Al smectites, mixed-layers illite–smectite and kaolinite), quartz and lesser quantities of gypsum and halite. The textural characteristics observed by electron microscopy, the trace and rare earth elements contents and their distribution in the various mineral phases, together with the isotopic composition of dolomite and fibrous clays, provide good clues as to the genesis of the neoformed minerals. Thus, the sepiolite would have precipitated directly in lacustrine, playa-lake or sebka environments under alkaline conditions, high Si and Mg and low Al activity, and arid to semiarid climate. On the other hand, the palygorskite would have formed by transformation of already existing illite and/or smectite type aluminosilicates in solutions in equilibrium with isotopically heavier and, therefore, more evaporated solutions than the sepiolite.     

Dolomite dissolution: An alternative diagenetic pathway for the formation of palygorskite clay

Palygorskite is a fibrous, magnesium‐bearing clay mineral commonly associated with Late Mesozoic and Early Cenozoic dolomites. The presence of palygorskite is thought to be indicative of warm, alkaline fluids rich in Si, Al and Mg. Palygorskite has been interpreted to form in peritidal diagenetic environments, either as a replacement of detrital smectite clay during a dissolution–precipitation reaction or solid‐state transformation, or as a direct precipitate from solution. Despite a lack of evidence, most diagenetic studies involving these two minerals posit that dolomite and palygorskite form concurrently. Here, petrological evidence is presented from the Umm er Radhuma Formation (Palaeocene–Eocene) in the subsurface of central Qatar for an alternative pathway for palygorskite formation. The Umm er Radhuma is comprised of dolomitized subtidal to peritidal carbonate cycles that are commonly capped by centimetre‐scale beds rich in palygorskite. Thin section, scanning electron microscopy and elemental analyses demonstrate that palygorskite fibres formed on both the outermost surfaces of dissolved euhedral dolomite crystals and within partially to completely dissolved dolomite crystal cores. These observations suggest that dolomite and palygorskite formed sequentially, and support a model by which the release of Mg²⁺ ions and the buffering of solution pH during dolomite dissolution promote the formation of palygorskite. This new diagenetic model explains the co‐occurrence of palygorskite and dolomite in the rock record, and provides valuable insight into the specific diagenetic conditions under which these minerals may form.     

Occurrence of palygorskite and sepiolite in upper Paleocene–middle Eocene marine deep sediments of the Lagonegro Basin (Southern Apennines—Italy): Paleoenvironmental and provenance inferences

A mineralogical and geochemical study of clay lithologies and a biostratigraphic analysis of the carbonates from the deep-sea Lagonegro Basin (Southern Apennines—Italy) have been carried out to deduce in general the provenance of clay sediments and their paleoenvironmental conditions and particular to recognize the signature of the Paleocene–Eocene climatic global warming. The analysed succession comprising a wide stratigraphic interval of the Sannio Unit, spanning between Albian to the upper Oligocene–lower Miocene, is exposed near Accettura and Stigliano villages. Eighteen clay samples were analysed by XRD, XRF, SEM, TG-DTA. Their age was framed by biostratigraphic analyses carried out on carbonate sediments. Mineral assemblage of the clay sediments includes quartz, carbonates (calcite and dolomite), feldspars (plagioclase and k-feldspars), hematite, randomly illite/smectite mixed layers with a low illite percentage, kaolinite, discrete illite–muscovite, chlorite, palygorskite and sepiolite. The low illite percentage in randomly illite/smectite mixed layers indicates low diagenetic conditions for the studied successions. These features are unique for the Cretaceous–Tertiary successions of the Lagonegro domain and are particularly significant for the preservation of the native mineralogical assemblage useful to determine the provenance and paleoenvironmental conditions of the clayey sediments. Palygorskite and sepiolite are concentrated in the upper Paleocene–middle Eocene stratigraphic interval and particularly in the upper part of the early Eocene—lower part of the middle Eocene (biozone of Blow P 9–12). Clay sediments rich in palygorskite and sepiolite show a higher P₂O₅ amount and a lower kaolinite percentage, compatible with warm and arid climatic conditions typical of the global warming event well recorded in the southern tethyan margin. Likely palygorskite and sepiolite formed in lagoonal environment in nearby carbonate platform margins and then they were transported into the Lagonegro Basin as indicated by the well developed habitus of palygorskite. During the Paleogene the Lagonegro Basin and the nearby carbonate platforms represented a key sector the southern paleodomains of the Tethys. The discovery of these minerals gives a contribution to the reconstruction paleoenvironmental conditions of the Tethian paleo-margin during the early–middle Eocene.     

Rock composition and origin of the Duwi Formation calcareous rocks, Upper Egypt

Upper Cretaceous phosphorite beds of the Duwi Formation, Upper Egypt, are intercalated with limestone, sandy limestone, marl, calcareous shales, and calcareous sandstone. Calcareous intercalations were subjected to field and detailed petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical investigations in order to constrain their rock composition and origin. Mineralogically, dolomite, calcite, quartz, francolite and feldspars are the non-clay minerals. Smectite, kaolinite and illite represent the clay minerals. Major and trace elements can be classified as the detrital and carbonate fractions based on their sources. The detrital fraction includes the elements that are derived from detrital sources, mainly clay minerals and quartz, such as Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K, Ba, V, Ni, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, Zr, and Mo. The carbonate fraction includes the elements that are derived from carbonates, maily calcite and dolomite, such as Ca, Mg and Sr. Dolomite occurs as being dense, uniform, mosaic, very fine-to-fine, non-ferroan, and non-stoichiometrical, suggesting its early diagenetic formation in a near-shore oxidizing shallow marine environment. The close association and positive correlation between dolomite and smectite indicates the role of clay minerals in the formation of dolomite as a source of Mg^2＋ -rich solutions. Calcareous rocks were deposited in marine, oxidizing and weakly alkaline conditions, marking a semi-arid climatic period. The calcareous/argillaceous alternations are due to oscillations in clay/carbonate ratio.     

Tonminerale in normalsedimenten,hydrothermal beeinflu\ten sedimenten und Erzschlämmen des Roten Meeres

From 14 deeps and other regions of the Red Sea totally 226 samples from 28 cores recovered during the VALDIVIA cruises (1971, 1972) were investigated according to their clay mineral content (<2μm resp. < 6.3 μm) after carbonate dissolution. Three facies groups are to distinguish:

1. normal sediments: dominance of chlorite, kaolinite, illite, small amounts of smectite and sepiolite. Two palygorskite types are present only in a few samples.
2. normal sediments with hydrothermal influence: clay mineral paragenesis similar like that of normal sediments; but increase of smectite and presence of goethite in each sample; partly small contents of talc.
3. heavy metal deposits: dominance of iron-bearing smectite, partly with amorphous components resp. pure ore mineral assemblages with authigenic silicates (talc, quartz, opal, chrysotile, sepiolite, palygorskite, chlorite).

Crystallinity of the clay and ore minerals is independent from sedimentary overburden. Sepiolite shows in small amounts a wide distribution; palygorskite₂ (d₁₁₀=11.3 Å) yields locally an increased concentration in the range of pteropod layers cemented by aragonite. The environment of ore deposits is characterized by iron-bearing smectite besides the ore minerals.     

Influence of the halokinesis on the clay mineral repartition of upper Maastrichtian–Ypresian in the Meknassy-Mezzouna basin,centerwestern Tunisia

The Meknassy-Mezzouna basin is affected by a fault system, assembling two main directions, northsouth and eastwest. The Triassic outcrops are widely noticeable at Jebel Jebbes El Meheri and the Mezzouna link. During the late Maastrichtian–Ypresian, the sedimentation in the basin is influenced by halokinetic events, which are clearly manifested either by the thickness of El Haria formation along the Triassic outcrops (rim syncline) or by an alteration surface at the top of the Abiod formation. Such events also confirm the emersion of the basin from the late Maastrichtian to the early Lutetian. However, the present work tries to highlight the effects of halokinetic uplift on the clay mineralogical variations at that area. In harmony with this halokinetic activity, the clay minerals of this time interval (during the late Maastrichtian–Ypresian) show a trend of variation which corresponds to the evolution from illite and kaolinite, indicating a strongly hydrolytic marine environment, to smectite, sepiolite, and palygorskite, reflecting a very rapid evolution from this marine environment to a lagoon environment, then to a more confined continental environment. In fact, the appearance of sepiolite and palygorskite on the top of El Haria formation and the Paleocene–Eocene transition can be explained by a transformation or neoformation mechanism in an alkaline environment, rich in silica and magnesium, under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. Moreover, the palygorskite can be formed in continental deposits as well as in close marine environment, which displays a limited communication with the open sea. Under these conditions, the evaporation leads to high ionic concentration of alkaline pH, which is favorable to the formation and stability of this mineral.     

Mineralogy, petrography, and biostratigraphy of the Lower Eocene succession at Gebel El-Qurn, West Luxor, Southern Egypt

The widely exposed siliciclastic/carbonate succession exposed at Gebel El-Qurn, west Luxor, has been investigated from the mineralogical, petrographical and biostratigraphical points of view. The succession belongs to the lower Eocene, including the upper Esna Shale and the Thebes Formations that have been deposited under varied marine conditions and during alternating periods of abundant and ceased clastic influx. They contain abundant and well-diversified planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton, suggesting deposition in open marine inner to middle shelf environments. Mineralogical analysis carried out by XRD revealed the presence of smectite, illite, kaolinite, sepiolite, palygorskite, and smectite–illite-mixed layer as the principal clay minerals, and calcite, dolomite, quartz, anhydrite, gypsum, hematite, and goethite as non-clay minerals. The clay mineral distributions in the sediments reflect the climatic conditions and the weathering processes at the source area as well as the differential hydraulic sorting during transportation. Calcite is the most abundant non-clay mineral, and this is consistent with high calcareous fossil content of the sediments. Petrographic examination of the carbonate lithologies within the succession enables to identify eight microfacies associations. These microfacies were affected by several diagenetic processes including; micritization, compaction, cementation, neomorphism, dissolution, dolomitization, and silicification. Dissolution of original test wall and replacement and infilling by iron oxides and recrystallized calcite were commonly observed. Calcareous nannofossils are generally common to frequent, highly diversified, and moderately to well preserved. Two calcareous nannofossil biozones; Tribrachiatus contortus Zone (NP10) and Discoaster binodosus (NP11) are recorded in the studied sediments suggesting lower Eocene age. Their associated nannofossil taxa are characterized by the predominance of warm water species. Sea-level fluctuations, basin physiography, climate, paleogeography, and sediment supply were the major controls on the deposition of the lower Eocene sediments at Gebel El-Qurn.     

震旦纪陡山沱组的泥晶磷块岩

泥晶磷块岩(micritic phosphorite)是磷块岩的主要类型之一。我国的磷块岩矿床也多有这种矿石。过去往往把组成泥晶磷块岩的磷酸盐矿物叫做胶磷矿(collophane)。扫描电镜、X-射线衍射等观察结果表明,胶磷矿实际上也是结晶质磷灰石,只是由于颗粒极其微小而已。由这种泥晶磷灰石组成的泥晶磷块岩也同样不像过去描述的那样单调,而是具有比较复杂的结构、构造。     

青海循化盆地晚渐新世沉积物中坡缕石的特征及其古气候指示意义

采用X射线衍射和扫描电子分析方法,对青海循化盆地晚渐新世沉积物的矿物组成、坡缕石的矿物学特征以及古气候指示作用进行了深入的研究。结果表明,晚渐新世循化盆地沉积物中粘土矿物组成主要有蒙脱石、伊利石、坡缕石和绿泥石等;坡缕石一般呈纤维状或者针状,沿片状蒙脱石的边缘及表面交代生长,为典型自生成因的坡缕石。坡缕石是干旱-半干旱气候条件的特征矿物,其出现表明循化地区晚渐新世气候特征较为干旱,与粘土矿物组合及伊利石结晶度所反映的气候环境信息相吻合;沉积物中坡缕石相对含量及有序度自下而上逐渐增大,说明循化地区的干旱化逐渐加剧。循化地区晚渐新世(～23 Ma)的干旱化可能与青藏高原隆升或者全球气候变冷事件密切相关。     

苏皖坡缕石粘土中蛋白石特征及其成因意义

TEM和XRD研究表明，在苏皖坡缕石粘土矿床的蛋白石坡缕石层中存在0pal-A和0pal-CT两种结构的蛋白石。蛋白石坡缕石层主要含坡缕石、opal-A、opal-CT，以及少量白云石和其它矿物，由富opal-A层和富opal-CT层互层组成，交互层的厚度在几个厘米左右。蛋白石坡缕石层中的矿物基本是自生矿物，从蒸发湖水中化学沉淀形成。矿物组成特征研究表明，蛋白石坡缕石层的矿物组分(Si、Mg、Al)来源于盆地周围玄武岩淋滤的浅层地下水。根据Opal-A和Opal-CT溶解度图解和城缕石、白云石形成物理化学条件图解，当湖水具有高浓度溶解SiO2和Mg^2 时，有利于opal-A和坡缕石形成，当湖水具有低浓度溶解SiO2时，有利于opal-CT结晶。因此，沉淀SiO2的结构状态取决于地下水补给的湖水溶解SiO2浓度。富opal-A和富opal-CT交互层的形成是古气候、古水文周期性变化的指示。富opal-CT层指示高地下水补给流入量，低蒸发量，湖水低盐度和溶解组分，代表湿润气候时期；而富opal-A层代表低地下水补给流入量，高蒸发量，高溶解组分浓度，代表干旱气候时期。     

华南地区二叠纪栖霞组燧石结核成因研究及其地质意义

燧石结核是华南地区二叠纪栖霞组的重要识别特征之一，其成因具重要的古地理、古海洋意义。通过对湖北黄石、江苏南京和广西来宾三地栖霞组燧石结核的岩石矿物学研究，确定了栖霞组燧石结核的矿物组成和成岩作用序列。研究区燧石结核主要由微石英、负延性玉髓、粗晶石英组成，并含少量白云石、方解石及生物碎屑。其中，微石英、负延性玉髓、正延性玉髓、白云石形成于早期成岩作用，方解石晶粒形成于晚期成岩作用，粗晶石英的形成则具有多期性。结合栖霞组菊花状天青石和海泡石成因研究结果，本文认为组成栖霞组燧石结核的硅质来源与当时全球硅质生物的繁盛有关。燧石结核内玉髓和白云石形成环境条件及形成时间的确定，为建立更加合理的燧石结核成因模式和白云岩化模式提供了重要资料，同时也对深入探讨本区二叠纪层状硅质岩的成因具启发意义。     

Depositional conditions of the coal-bearing Hirka Formation beneath Late Miocene explosive volcanic products in NW central Anatolia,Turkey

This work focuses on the relationship between the coal deposition and explosive volcanism of the Miocene basin, NW central Anatolia, Turkey. The coal-bearing Hirka Formation was deposited over the Galatian Andesitic Complex and/or massive lagoonal environments during the Miocene. The investigated lignite is a high ash (from 32 to 58%) and sulphur (from 1.43 to 3.03%) lignite which is petrographically characterised by a high humunite content. The mineral matter of the studied lignite samples is made up of mainly clay minerals (illite-smectite and kaolinite), plagioclase and quartz in Bolu coal field, clay minerals (illite-smectite, smectite and illite), quartz, calcite, plagioclase and gypsum in Seben coal field, quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and clay minerals (kaolinite and illite) in K?br?sc?k, and dolomite, quartz, clinoptilolite, opal CT and gypsum in Çaml?dere coal field. The differences in these four types of lignite with specific mineralogical patterns may be due to the explosive volcanic events and depositional conditions which changed from one coal field to the others. There is a zonation from SW to SE in the studied area for zeolites such as Opal CT+smectite-clinoptilolite-analcime-K-feldspar. Carbonate minerals are commonly calcite in Seben and K?br?sc?k coal fields. In Bolu, coal samples are devoid of calcite and dolomite. These analyses show that there is an increase in the amount of Mg and a decrease in the amount of Na from the northwestern part to the southern part in the study area.     

Paleoenvironment of geomorphic surfaces of an alluvial fan in the eastern Isfahan,Iran, in the light of micromorphology and clay mineralogy

Alluvial fans are one of the most important landforms in geomorphological and paloenvironmental studies. The objective of this study was the application of clay mineral assemblages and micromorphological properties of the studied paleosols in the geomorphic surfaces of an alluvial fan in the eastern Isfahan as proxies for paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes. Micromorphology, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy approaches were used to study the representative pedons. The results indicated that the illuviation process in the calcareous soils of the arid regions of the eastern Isfahan was probably in response to Quaternary moist conditions. There was no significant difference between clay coating properties of the studied relict and buried paleosols. Clay mineralogical study suggested that kaolinite and illite were inherited from the parent materials, while smectite and palygorskite were formed in the soil environment. Paleoargillic horizon was characterized by smectite and calcic (especially the calcrete) horizons were dominated by palygorskite. Palygorskite was accumulated by both neoformation and illuviation processes. High clay content, high intensity of smectite peak, and activity of the illuviation process in paleoargillic horizon demonstrated the seasonality of climate (rainfall) even in the moist periods of Quaternary in Central Iran. Clay mineralogical assemblages suggested a trend of increasing environmental aridity in the study area. This study, therefore, highlighted the role of clay mineralogical investigations in arid lands’ geomorphological and paleoenvironmental researches.     

江苏白土山坡缕石粘土矿性能及其应用研究

白土山坡缕石粘土矿床集中赋存于上第三系上新统桂五组。可划分出坡缕石粘土、白云石坡缕石粘土、混合粘土、蒙脱石粘土、海泡石粘土、方解石坡缕石粘土 6种自然类型。其中产于Ⅲ号矿层的坡缕粘土矿质量较好 ,具较高的应用价值。采用加入适量硅酸钠溶液的提纯流程 ,坡缕石矿石品位从30 .9%提高到 84.5 %。经研究坡缕石品位越高 ,导热系数越小 ;密度、含水量越大 ,导热系数越大。坡缕石在 6 5 0℃以下能保持晶体结构基本框架 ,仍具有较低导热系数。经多次试验 ,研制成功性能优良的Ⅲ号隔热保温涂料。     

Hydrothermal Fossilization of Microorganisms at the Earth's Surface in Iceland

The fossilization of biota and formation of low- and high-temperature hydrothermally altered rocks were studied in solfataric fields, artificial hot lakes, at natural hot springs, and on heated beach within the present-day rift zone at the Reykjanes, Nesjavellir, Geysir, Landmannalaugar, Namafjall, and Oxarfjodur geothermal areas. The hydrothermally altered rocks can be divided into the following mineral types: (1) smectite assemblage with iron oxides and hydroxides; (2) smectite assemblage with sulfides (pyrite); (3) kaolinite-metahalloysite assemblage with sulfates, anatase, and boehmite; and (4) siliceous assemblage. The detailed study of the hydrothermally altered rocks allowed us to elucidate some environmental features of modern fossilization and replacement of organic matter with clay minerals, iron oxyhydroxides, and silica. The fossilized microstructures have been described in rocks of the smectite and siliceous assemblages. It has been shown that the pseudobiomorphic (actually, abiogenic) micro- and nannostructures are formed in the moving water of silica deposition zone.     

Palygorskite from cave sediments: case study from Wadi Haqil,United Arab Emirates

The x-ray powder diffraction identification of clay minerals both in bulk samples and in separated clay fraction confirmed the presence of palygorskite in samples of cave sediments from Wadi Haqil (the western slopes of Musandam Mountains; Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate, UAE). Samples contain quartz, gypsum, smectite, kaolinite, calcite, and palygorskite, some of them chlorite, illite, feldspars, and goethite. Calcite dominates in most samples; smectite prevails in clay fraction. After heating, the 001 reflection of chlorite shifts to higher diffraction angles and its intensity decreases; these features indicate that the chlorite represent a Fe-dominant species. Unit-cell dimensions of major phases as refined by the Rietveld method are in agreement with literature data. Chemical composition of palygorskite was derived from unit-cell dimensions as follows: MgO content is 11–14 wt% and Al₂O₃ 10–13 wt%. Clay mineralogy is only hard to ascertain from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images even after being combined with the energy-dispersive spectrometer data. The SEM was also used to characterize gypsum grains; they often display flow deformation features. Studied cave sediments represent palygorskite-bearing weathering products and desert soils re-deposited from the cave surroundings by slope processes and wind and/or surface runoff. The mixture with other clay minerals, quartz, feldspars, etc. supports this interpretation. Fine-grained quartz fraction is probably wind-blown. Gypsum and calcite are the precipitates (crusts and/or cements), although gypsum can also be re-deposited from omnipresent gypsum-cemented surface sediments.     

Illite mineral synthesis at surface temperatures

The synthesis of illite mixed-layer minerals at surface conditions is possible through precipitation of Al hydroxides from Si-, Mg- and K-containing solutions. It has been shown that amorphous hydroxides of Al, Fe, etc. are capable of coprecipitating silica even from very dilute solutions. By aging of these X-ray amorphous hydroxide—silica precipitates under certain conditions, clay minerals can be synthesized at low temperatures. The presence of Mg particularly favors the formation of three-layer clay minerals. Mg-rich Al hydroxide—silica precipitates permit formation of tri- and di-octahedral smectite, illite and chlorite. The formation of three-layer clay minerals is only possible when the precipitates contain at least 6% MgO. The precipitates stay amorphous if the Mg content is lower. The adsorption of Mg and K on the hydroxide—silica precipitate controls the illite or montmorillonite portion in the mixture of the three-layer silicates. There is a competition for K and Mg adsorption on the hydroxide—silica precipitates. Higher K concentration inhibits the three-layer mineral formation through the lowering of the Mg content in the precipitates. Illite mineral formation is favored under certain K/Mg ratios. Higher NaCl contents do not favor the three-layer mineral formation.The enrichment of Mg and K in the precipitates is not as large as the enrichment of Si in the hydroxides. This means that the illite mineral formation is only possible from solutions with a high-salt content like seawater.     

贵州绿豆岩中粘土矿物特征及其成因探讨

本文应用Ｘ射线衍射、红外光谱、差热分析，电子显微镜、化学分析、沉积相分析等方法，详细研究了贵州早、中三叠世间绿豆岩及其粘土矿物组成，确定了贵州绿豆岩中主要粘土矿物为伊利石、蒙脱石、高岭和伊利石／蒙脱石混层矿物。由于各地沉积环境和成岩条件的差异，分别形成伊利石粘土岩、蒙脱石粘土岩和高岭石粘土岩。探讨了绿豆及其粘土矿物的形成机理，为绿豆岩的开发利用提供了系统的新资料。     

湖北利川见天坝上二叠统海绵礁中的硅化作用

见天坝海绵礁发育于湖北省利川县见天坝(图1)上二叠统长兴组第二段。下伏地层长一段主要为盆地相黑灰色含泥质、有机质骨针和虫介屑粒泥岩与泥粒岩(即生物碎屑泥晶灰岩与泥晶生物碎屑灰岩),含燧石结核、团块以及条带,层内泥质纹层及不规则泥纹条带发育,底部含丰富的碳酸盐化的放射虫和海绵骨针,顶部厚10米的钙屑浊积岩是海绵礁的生长基底。     

Clay minerals in recent sediments of the World Ocean and their relation to types of lithogenesis

Problem of the distribution of clay minerals in water areas of the World Ocean and their relation to different (humid, arid, and volcanosedimentary) types of lithogenesis is considered. It is shown that layer silicates can be used as index minerals for distinguishing types of lithogenesis under conditions of marine sedimentation. Humid marine lithogenesis is represented by sediments of the White, Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean seas. Genetic link of marine clay formation with soil-climatic zones is clearly manifested in recent sediments of the World Ocean. Accumulation of statistic data on the mineral composition of clays allowed us to distinguish two modes of spatial-latitudinal distribution of clay minerals: maximal concentrations of illites and chlorites are confined to high latitudes, whereas kaolinite and smectite accumulate in the equatorial zone. In the arid lithogenesis, the dependence of clay formation on drainage areas is practically absent. The whole process is realized in surficial sediments and bottom waters: under conditions of intense evaporation, especially in closed water basins, the concentration of elements in the medium is enough for the synthesis of layer silicates, such as palygorskite and sepiolite. The processes were studied based on the Paleogene Fergana Bay and bottom sediments of the Sea of Aral, as well as DSDP core materials from the Atlantic (near the western coast of Africa) and Indian (the Arabian Peninsula area) oceans. The investigation of processes of volcanosedimentary lithogenesis was carried out within the East Pacific Rise (on the basis of core materials obtained during cruises of R/V Dmitry Mendeleev and Akademik Kurchatov). The results obtained made it possible to establish authigenic (primarily celadonite) K-Fe mineralization in the most active geothermal zones. The formation of clay minerals has specific features in each of the studied (humid, arid, and volcanosedimentary) types of lithogenesis. This should be taken into consideration during the lithological investigations and the study of clay mineralogy of past geological epochs. Clay minerals (particularly, unstable mixed-layered phases) are actively used as index minerals for paleogeographic and climatologic reconstructions.