An infrared study of clay minerals, 2. The identification of kaolinite-group clays in deep-sea sediments

The kaolinite-group mineral in deep-sea sediments is usually identified as kaolinite, and occasionally as halloysite. A study has been made of the infrared spectra of these two minerals; their absorption bands have been described, and compared to those of the other principal clay groups, i.e., illites, montmorillonites and chlorites, found in deep-sea sediments. It is shown that kaolinite and halloysite have diagnostic absorption bands at ca. 915 cm^?1 and ca. 3700 cm^?1. These bands are made the basis of a rapid infrared technique for the identification of kaolinite and or halloysite in deep-sea sediments.     

沉积岩中粘土矿物定量分析的研究

扫描电镜(SEM)与X射线能量色散分析(EDX)联用,可获得粘土矿物微区成分和全样平均成分,并求出样品中的矿物含量,实验采用纯矿物人工配比组合样,进行SEM/EDX条件试验,矿物定量的相对误差小于5%.为考察该方法的实用性,做了湖南风化型矿石海泡石定量,还对安徽嘉山和江苏金层凹凸棒石进行矿物定量,均得到满意的结果,为了解矿区矿物组合特点和评价粘土矿床提供了依据.     

Transformational changes of clay minerals, zeolites and silica minerals during diagenesis

Diagenetic transformation of clay minerals, zeolites and silica minerals in Cretaceous and Tertiary argillaceous rocks from deeply drilled wells in Japan were studied. Transformations of these minerals during diagenesis were as follows: in clay minerals, montmorillonite → montmorillonite-illite mixed-layer mineral → illite; in zeolites, volcanic glass → clinoptilolite → heulandite and/or analcite → laumontite and/or albite; in silica minerals, amorphous silica → low-cristobalite → low-quartz. Maximum overburden pressures and geothermal temperatures corresponding to these transformations in each well studied were calculated. For clay minerals, a pressure of approximately 900 kg cm^?2 and a temperature of about 100°C are necessary for the transformation from montmorillonite to mixed-layer mineral and 920 kg cm^?2 and 140°C for mixed-layer mineral to illite. Transformation from kaolinite to other minerals requires much higher pressures and temperatures than from montmorillonite to mixed-layer mineral. For zeolites, 330 kg cm^?2 and 60°C are required for the transformation from volcanic glass to clinoptilolite, 860 kg cm^?2 and 120°C for clinoptilolite to heulandite and/or analcite, and 930 kg cm^?2 and 140°C for heulandite and/or analcite to laumontite and/or albite. For silica minerals, 250 kg cm^?2 and 50°C are necessary for the transformation from amorphous silica to low-cristobalite and 660 kg cm^?2 and 70°C for low-cristobalite to low-quartz. Based on these diagenetic mineral transformations, seven mineral zones are recognized in argillaceous sediments. On the other hand, from the porosity studies of argillaceous sediments in Japan, the process of diagenesis is classified into the following three stages. The early compaction stage is marked by shallow burial and viscous rocks with more than 30% porosity. The late compaction stage is characterized by intermediate burial and plastic rocks with 30-10% porosities. The transformation stage is marked by deep burial and elastic rocks with less than 10% porosity.     

从粘土矿物特征初步探讨苏北辐射状沙洲的沉积特征

以粘土矿物的组合特征分析，来研究大洋或近岸沉积物的文章已不〔Biscaye,1965, Griffin, 1968, Aoki 19i}-1918)。而应用粘土矿物组合特征分析研究动力沉积特征的文章尚少见。苏北近岸海域有长江及旧黄河等河流流入，泥沙来源丰富，途径多，水动力作用活跃，海底泥沙运移变化大，海岸冲淤变化快，形成比较复杂的海底地形。有名的苏北辐射状沙洲就在这里，而查清该区泥沙的来源及运移规律是研究沙洲成因及演变的中心课题。为此，我们做了粒度、重矿物、抱粉、微体古生物、化学、悬浮体等方面的工作，其中应用粘土矿物组合特征分析便是有意义的尝试之一。     

The geochemistry of iron in Recent tidal-flat sediments of the Wash area,England: a mineralogical,Mössbauer,and magnetic study

Undisturbed core samples of Recent sediments from the Wash tidal flats, East Anglia, England, obtained using a Delft corer, were studied with special reference to the diagenesis and geochemical behaviour of iron. The Mössbauer effect in ⁵⁷Fe was used to monitor the distribution of Fe between different phases as a function of depth, together with the magnetic mineralogy and palaeomagnetic properties.The cores consist of, successively downwards: 0.36 m brown clay; 1.5 m finely laminated silts and fine sands, and 7.14 m homogeneous fine sands. The dominant minerals are quartz, feldspar, calcite and clay minerals, and chemical analysis for Al, Si, Mg, Mn, Ca, Fe, Na, K showed variations closely linked to lithological changes. Illite is the most abundant clay mineral (mean 48%), followed by mixed layer illite-montmorillonite and montmorillonite, kaolinite and chlorite. Chlorite is the major iron-bearing clay mineral and represents 4 to 10% of the <2 μm fraction throughout the core. Sulphide minerals are present throughout the core, including framboidal pyrite.Computer fit analysis of the Mössbauer spectra of best quality showed contributions from Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in clay minerals (essentially chlorite), low-spin Fe²⁺ in pyrite, and magnetically ordered iron in greigite (Fe₃S₄). Systematic variations, as a function of sample depth, indicate a relative increase in the amount of Fe in pyrite at the expense of the clay minerals.Magnetite and titanium-bearing magnetite are the carriers of natural magnetic remanence in these sediments.The direction and intensity of natural remanence in the samples compare well with the known secular variation of the Earth's magnetic field derived from the historic-archaeomagnetic record and this enables the samples to be dated and sedimentation rates to be determined (1.5 mm yr^?1 for the upper 2 m and ~7.7 mm yr^?1 for the lower 7 m).     

Clay Minerals in an Active Hydrothermal Field at Iheya‐North‐Knoll,Okinawa Trough

Iheya‐North‐Knoll is one of the small knolls covered with thick sediments in the Okinawa Trough back‐arc basin. At the east slope of Iheya‐North‐Knoll, nine hydrothermal vents with sulfide mounds are present. The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 331 studied Iheya‐North‐Knoll in September 2010. The expedition provided us with the opportunity to study clay minerals in deep sediments in Iheya‐North‐Knoll. To reveal characteristics of clay minerals in the deep sediments, samples from the drilling cores at three sites close to the most active hydrothermal vent were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The sediments are classified into Layer 0 (shallow), Layer 1 (deep), Layer 2 (deeper) and Layer 3 (deepest) on the basis of the assemblage of clay minerals. Layer 0 contains no clay minerals. Layer 1 contains smectite, kaolinite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 2 contains chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 3 is grouped into three sub‐layers, 3A, 3B and 3C; Sub‐layer 3A contains chlorite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral, sub‐layer 3B contains chlorite/smectite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals, and sub‐layer 3C contains chlorite and illite. Large amounts of di‐octahedral clay minerals such as smectite, kaolinite, illite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral are found in Iheya‐North‐Knoll, which is rarely observed in hydrothermal fields in mid‐ocean ridges. Tri‐octahedral clay minerals such as chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral in Iheya‐North‐Knoll have low Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios compared with those in mid‐ocean ridges. In conclusion, the characteristics of clay minerals in Iheya‐North‐Knoll differ from those in mid‐ocean ridges; di‐octahedral clay minerals and Fe‐poor tri‐octahedral clay minerals occur in Iheya‐North‐Knoll but not in mid‐ocean ridges.     

Fine-grained rocks: Shales or physilites

Fine-grained sediments and rocks containing a high percentage of phyllosilicate minerals have never been satisfactorily classified. Rocks names are poorly defined. The definition of many terms such as clay, clay mineral and shale are logically inconsistent. The major problems are caused by the assumption that there is a fixed relation between grain size and mineralogy and that structure is a basic parameter.Shallow-buried recent and ancient marine sediments with a high content of phyllosilicates commonly contain 60–80% clay and 20–40% silt. Phyllosilicates are present in approximately the same amounts as the clay-size material. Many fine-grained sediments that have been deeply buried commonly contain 30–40% clay; the phyllosilicate mineral content is in the range of 60–80%.In most fine-grained sediments, as deposited, the majority of the material is in the clay size. With burial and diagenesis, much of the clay-sized material grows to silt size. Thus, claystones are converted to siltstones.The term physil, an abbreviated form of phyllosilicate, is proposed to describe all sheet silicate minerals regardless of grain size. Physilites are rocks with a high content of physils. A simple classification is proposed in which size, mineralogy and structure are treated as independent variables.     

Particle size scales and classification of sediment types based on particle size distributions: Review and recommended procedures

This paper provides a review of different particle size scales, size class terminology and particle size distribution (‘textural’) classification schemes which are widely used in sedimentology, geomorphology, soil science, aquatic ecology and civil engineering. It is concluded that a revised system of size class nomenclature, based on the Udden (1898) and Wentworth (1922) schemes, provides the most logical and consistent framework for use with sediments and a wide range of other particulate materials. A refined scheme is proposed which has five first‐order size classes (boulder, gravel, sand, silt and clay), each of which has five second‐order subdivisions with limits defined at one phi intervals. The scheme is simple and intuitively easy to understand. The paper also provides a review of previous schemes that have been proposed to describe and classify sediments on the basis of the proportions of gravel, sand and mud, or sand, silt and clay using trigons (also termed ternary diagrams). Many of these schemes do not have a logical basis and provide limited or uneven resolution. New gravel, sand and mud and sand, silt and clay classification systems are proposed that are both more logical and provide greater discriminatory power than previous schemes; they are therefore more suitable for use in environmental and forensic investigations. A new Microsoft Excel^® program, freely available to download from http://www.kpal.co.uk , allows rapid classification of sediments based on the proportions of gravel, sand and mud and sand, silt and clay proportions and graphical comparison of the data for different sample groups.     

Distribution of grain size, clay mineralogy and organic matter of surface sediments from Tirumalairajanar Estuary, Tamilnadu, east coast of India

The aim of this study is to understand the various sources and factors controlling the abundance and distribution of clay minerals, sand, silt, clay and organic matter of the surface sediments of Tirumalairajanar Estuary in two different seasons. The study was undertaken for two seasons, based on ten selected stations all along the estuary, mouth and freshwater zone. Furthermore, along the estuary region, clay and silt were observed and also at few stations in the upstream end. Organic matters in the sediments appeared to be the main mechanisms for the distribution of clay minerals in estuary indicated that the distributions of clay minerals were comparatively higher during postmonsoon than in premonsoon season. The clay mineral assemblage consists mainly of chlorite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite and very scarce gibbsite. The clay from the sediments has been separated and studied for mineral identification using X-ray diffraction analysis. The present study also reveals that sediment texture is one of the main controlling factors for the distribution of organic matter.     

粘土沉积物XRD定量分析方法

从理论上推导了无序混合层粘土矿物混层比f与XRD视面网间距d之间的近似函数关系,制定出I/S混层矿物的d-f换算表;通过对济阳拗陷泥质岩石的研究,从一种新的途径求出了粘土矿物的强度因子,提出混层矿物XRD强度因子与混层比的线性关系式。根据不同的制样方法,利用微机运算,可以对粘土沉积物中的6种或10种矿物进行大量快速的定量分析。     

青海湖底沉积物的矿物物相及有机质保存研究

盐湖沉积环境是烃源岩发育的重要地质环境。本文以青海湖湖底沉积物为例，根据有机质与粘土矿物含最及矿物表面积的关系，分析了矿物学因素对盐湖相富有机质沉积物中有机质保存的影响。研究发现：湖底沉积物中有机质丰富，为上层水中的浮游生物和南河流携带束的陆地高等植物两种来源。矿物物相分析发现沉积物中粘土矿物含量达到32．4％，以伊利石为主。沉积物经密度分离后测试发现，有机碳含量与粘土矿物含量及矿物表面积之间具有很好的正相关性，说明粘土矿物吸附是青海湖底沉积物中有机质的主要赋存形式。     

Hydrogen isotope exchange between clay minerals and sea water

The D/H ratios of separated size fractions of clay minerals in two deep sea sediments taken from depths of 30 and 1100cm in a North Pacific Ocean core were measured to investigate the extent of hydrogen isotope exchange between detrital clay minerals and sea water. The D/H ratio of each size fraction of the shallower sample was compared with that of the corresponding size fraction of the deeper sample. No differences were detected between D/H ratios of corresponding size fractions from the two levels in the core except for the <0.1μm size fraction, which makes up only 5% of the sample. Even in this size fraction only about 8–28% D/H exchange is apparent. This is interpreted as indicating that no significant hydrogen isotope exchange between clay minerals and sea water has occurred during the past 2–3 Myr. Therefore information concerning the provenance and mode of formation of detrital clay minerals can be obtained from the D/H ratios of deep sea sediments younger than 2–3 Myr.     

Assessment of clay content from the analysis of K,U, and Th distribution in different grain-size fractions of the productive sediments of the Lovin Field,Western Siberia

During the calculation of the oil and gas resources of Western Siberia, especially in the sediments of the Tyumen Formation, the presence of thin nonreservoir clay intercalations must be accounted for. However, the resolution of standard geophysical methods that are used to identify productive sequences is insufficient, and the clay intercalations are included into the total thickness of reservoir rocks, which leads to considerable errors during resource assessment. The most efficient method for the estimation of clay mineral content in sedimentary rocks is the gamma method or gamma-ray well logging, which is typically used for this purpose. However, its application requires the knowledge of correlations between the abundance of clay minerals in the sediments; the contents of K, U, and Th; and total radioactivity. To solve this problem, four grain-size fractions (sand, coarse silt, fine silt, and clay) were separated from the sediments of the Tyumen Formation at the Lovin Field and were analyzed for naturally radioactive elements (NRE), total radioactivity, and mineral composition. The tendencies found in the distribution of NRE and total radioactivity in different grain-size fractions provided a methodical basis for the determination of clay mineral contents in the productive sediments of the Tyumen Formation at the Lovin Field using gamma-spectrometric data.     

Dissolved Al in sediments and waters of the East China Sea: Implications for authigenic mineral formation

Numerous previous studies indicate that several different authigenic aluminosilicates form in the oceans. In this study we show, using dissolved Al distributions in sediments and waters from the nearshore regions of the East China Sea, that the process of aluminosilicate formation probably begins rapidly upon contact of detrital clays with seawater. Statistical analyses of dissolved Al-Si-H⁺ relations in surface sediments indicate that the minerals forming in East China Sea sediments low in dissolved Fe are dioctahedral chlorites with an average composition EX_0.91Mg_0.77Al_5.0Si_2.7O₁₀(OH)₈ (where EX = exchangeable + 1 cation). This composition is also consistent with dissolved Al and Si measurements as a function of salinity in turbid overlying waters. Results suggest a dissolution—reprecipitation mechanism for clay mineral reconstitution. This mechanism can help to explain why different authigenic clays are found in different areas of the oceans. In the East China Sea the total amount of authigenic clays present must constitute a very minor fraction of the bottom sediments. Thus, the formation of these minerals has a relatively small impact upon dissolved Si distributions. Clay mineral reconstitution in nearshore regions may provide a mechanism for buffering sediments and overlying waters with respect to pH, as the composition of minerals formed should be a direct function of the H⁺ activity in the surrounding environment.     

Quantitative analysis of clay minerals and their admixtures

Clay minerals are of non uniform composition and particle size. Also their identification and nomenclature have given much confusion. Examples are given. Quantitative analysis of clay minerals from deposits and soils, by X-ray, thermo- and infrared analysis is treated. Examples are given of the large variability in the results; even for X-ray and electron microscope pure- and 85 to 90% chemical pure samples of kaolinite a well defined clay mineral. They are caused mainly by varying conditions of crystal growth from which result differences in isomorphous replacements, structure, ordering and strain. An amorphous weathering substance coating the mineral particles (Beilby layer) upsets in particular quantitative analyses of the finer kinds of clay minerals. Clay minerals from soils have, as compared to those from pure deposits, in particular formed by hydrothermal action, only poor characteristics of small intensity. Examples are given. Quantitative analyses are further hindered by specific characteristics for a certain mineral being masked by those of other minerals which usually occur in the same sample. Examples are given.     

长江口细颗粒沉积物的粘土矿物及地球化学特征

概况 粘土矿物是细粒沉积物中最主要的矿物组成。据长江口泥沙分析资料,在河口地区无论是悬沙或底沙,粒经均以<0.032毫米的颗粒为主,在悬沙中竟占90%以上,底沙中约占75%。因此,研究长江口沉积物的沉积作用、泥沙扩散及航道回淤等项目时,均须以细颗粒沉积物为主要对象。     

Determining Biogenic Silica in Marine Samples by Tracking Silicate and Aluminium Concentrations in Alkaline Leaching Solutions

This study introduces an alkaline leaching technique for the simultaneous analysis of biogenic silica and aluminium in sediments. Measuring aluminium facilitates the discrimination between silica from the biogenic (BSiO₂) and the non-biogenic fraction, because it originates almost solely from the lithogenic phase. The method was tested using fine-grained silicagel, standard clay minerals, artificial sediments, and natural samples ranging from fresh diatoms to aged sediment from different depositional settings. To determine the BSiO₂ content, four different models each describing the dissolution curves, but of increasing complexity, were applied and for each different type of sample the optimum model was selected on the basis of F-test statistics. For mixtures of silicagel and clay minerals, the contribution of Si from the dissolution of clay was negligible compared to Si originating from silicagel. For natural samples with high clay content, complex dissolution curves were observed and single-phase first order dissolution was the exception. This deviation from `ideal' behavior could only be recognized because of high-resolution sampling, especially in the first 20 minutes of the experiment. For most of the samples, the distinction between the biogenic silica fraction and the silica originating from dissolution of clays could be made on the basis of the Si/Al ratios and reactivity constants of the dissolving phases calculated with the models. Clay minerals typically dissolve slowly at a Si/Al ratio close to 1–2, depending on the type of clay mineral. In contrast, biogenic silica displays a wide range of reactivities and Si/Al ratios. Fresh biogenic silica from the water column usually has a high reactivity and a low Al content. Aged biogenic silica from the sediments has a lower reactivity, but Si/Al ratios as low as 5 were found. The method as described here therefore presents an accurate method to analyze biogenic silica in marine sediments with a relatively high clay mineral content.     

黏土矿物古气候意义研究的现状与展望

系统地分析了利用海洋沉积物、古土壤、湖盆沉积物中黏土矿物进行古气候环境研究的现状、存在问题和发展趋势。海洋沉积物的物源范围广,影响因素复杂,其中的碎屑黏土矿物所指示的古气候参数只能用于解释母源区的气候变化,而只有自生黏土矿物才能指示沉积区的气候;古土壤形成于特定的地质背景条件下,尤其是发育于火山物质母岩之上的风化自生黏土矿物,可以准确地指示该区的古气候条件;湖盆沉积物的物源范围小,沉积物中的黏土矿物可以更有效地运用于古气候环境的分析。对于沉积物中黏土矿物来源的分析,可以借助晶体中cv空位和tv空位的精细结构特征进行判断;在风化改造的红土剖面研究中,因强烈的化学风化、淋滤和迁移,黏土矿物方法具有独特的优势。风化过程中形成的一些亚种或过渡性黏土矿物,以及同生沉积过程中形成的黏土矿物,对气候环境的变化更加敏感,应加强这方面的研究。此外,在造山带的气候环境演化研究中,自生黏土矿物稳定同位素可以更可靠地指示气候环境的变化。     

台湾海峡西部沉积物中粘土矿物的初步研究

利用X射线衍射,红外光谱,电子显微镜和化学分析等手段,综合分析和研究了台湾海峡西部海域的以水云母为主,高岭石次之的粘土矿物组合特征。结果表明其含量变化和分布特点受物质来源,沉积环境,气候条件,水动条件所制约。高岭石系湿热气候风化型陆源次生矿物,沿闽江和九龙江河口外迅速递减。绿泥石除少量陆源成因外,主要是次生和自生的绿泥石,蒙脱石变以蚀变型自生蒙脱石为主。粘土矿物含量的垂直变化能够为古气候和古沉境环境提供佐证     

Characteristics of Clay Minerals in the Luohe Formation in Zhenyuan Area,Ordos Basin,and its Uranium Prospecting SignificanceEI北大核心CSCD

Industrial uranium orebodies have recently been found through in-depth uranium exploration in the Luohe Formation in the southwestern Ordos Basin, which is an important breakthrough in deep prospecting for sandstone-type uranium deposits. The composition, content and characteristics of clay minerals in the Luohe Formation in the Zhenyuan area were systematically studied by means of thin section identification, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and altered mineral spectral scanning. Unlike the most important uranium-bearing rock series in the Zhiluo Formation in the northeast and southwest of the basin, the ore-bearing Luohe Formation sandstone has low contents of clay minerals while the clay mineral assemblages vary in different sand bodies. Among them, the main types of mudstone, oxidized sandstone, calcareous sandstone and mineralized sandstone are illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral and illite, followed by kaolinite and chlorite, the main types uranium-rich sandstone and gray-green sandstone are kaolinite and illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral, followed by illite and chlorite. Even though adsorption of clay minerals, such as chlorite, illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral, kaolinite, and illite may contribute to U enrichment and uranium mineral precipitation, no correlation between clays and uranium minerals have been observed, indicating that clay minerals are not the main factor affecting uranium enrichment during the deep metallogenic process. The study of clay minerals in the Luohe Formation sandstone demonstrated that there are at least two phases of chlorite and one phase of kaolinite in the study area, which respectively represent two phases of alkaline fluid and one phase of acid fluid activities, revealing a fluid phase transition of alkaline-acidic-alkaline. Therefore, the clay minerals can be used as an important indicator for uranium mineralization. © 2020, Science Press. All right reserved.