Episodic mineralization of hydrothermal illite in the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

Episodic and localized illite mineralization is documented in the hydrothermally altered Soultz-sous-Forêts granite (Upper Rhine Graben, France). Separated grain-size fractions of altered granite and argillite vein samples contain mixtures of 2M₁ and 1M trans-vacant illite varieties. The platy pseudohexagonal 2M₁ illite phases dominate the vein fillings, whereas the 1M illite occurs largely as a fibrous pore-filling variety, which is particularly abundant in the granite matrix. Multiple phases of fluid injections into the granite body have resulted in different illite assemblages, each sample containing a mixture of polytype generations formed during different crystal growth events. On the basis of mineralogical and K–Ar isotopic constraints, the ages of these vein-mineralizing events are determined by plotting the K–Ar values of the various grain-size fractions against polytype abundance and the fitted volume-weighted crystallite thickness distributions. The results suggest a Permian age for the formation of the studied argillite veins, characterized by successive injections of hydrothermal fluids. Secondary episodes of illite crystallization occurred during Jurassic and Cretaceous (or even younger times) in both the veins and the granite matrix. There are indications that the polytype structure and composition of illite were strongly influenced by variations in fluid chemistry and the degree of fluid–rock interaction as the granite was progressively sealed during post-Variscan, episodic hydrothermal activity.     

Theoretical modelling of cis -vacant and trans -vacant configurations in the octahedral sheet of illites and smectites

 The cis-vacant configurations of smectites and illites have been studied theoretically by using transferable empirical interatomic potentials. A wide range of compositions of octahedral and tetrahedral cation and interlayer charge has been considered. All results have been compared with the trans-vacant configurations in each sample. The calculated values reproduce the differences in the lattice parameters between the cis- and trans-vacant configurations of experimental studies. Taking into account the cis-/trans-vacant proportion, the calculated structures agree with experiment for the main structural features of the crystal lattice. The effect of the cation substitution in the octahedral and tetrahedral sheets on the cell parameters has been also studied, finding good linear relationships. The calculated cation substitution effects are consistent with experimental results. Although the energy difference between the cis- and trans-vacant configurations is small, the cis-vacant is more stable when the composition of clays is more smectitic, like the experimental behaviour. Similar trends of the cation substitution effect on the cis-/trans-vacant proportion to the experimental results are found. The structure of the hydroxy groups has also been analysed. The OH bond length, the orientation of the O–H bond with respect to the (001) plane and the non-bonding H...O distances have been studied. Received: 4 September 2000 / Accepted: 29 January 2001     

Mathematical prediction of lead removal from carbonate-rich illite

The interaction between heavy metal contaminants and surface forces associated with the reactive surfaces of soil particles was studied with the aim of developing an analytical tool that would permit the prediction of heavy metal and soil sorption–desorption phenomena. The predictive model developed in this study considers the energy of the interaction developed between a lead contaminant and illitic soil. Since these energy calculations include both inner and outer sphere complexes, energy balance requirements can be realistically evaluated with respect to environmental mobility. For a comparison between the calculated values obtained from the predictive model and experimentally obtained measurements, laboratory batch equilibrium tests and electro–kinetic tests were used. These were concerned with the sorption–desorption determination of illitic soil samples with the lead contaminant in the form of a lead nitrate solution. The force balance of lead ions indicates that lead ions in the so-called Stern layer, i.e. the first two layers of a water molecule, are non-removable. Good correlations between calculated and measured values were obtained.     

高岭石-伊利石-透辉石体系假相图

采用较纯透辉石岩、高岭石粘土和伊利石粘土作为端元组分,并根据用 DTA、热台显微镜、XRD 方法测定的数据组成了三元体系的假相图。根据假相图说明了有关陶瓷工艺学和变质岩岩石学的一些问题。     

Stress-strain behaviour of reconstituted illitic clay at different temperatures

Tests on specimens of reconstituted illitic clay have examined the influence of temperature on the mechanical behaviour of clay soils. The program involved consolidation to effective confining pressures up to 1.5 MPa, heating to 100°C, and tests on normally consolidated and overconsolidated specimens with OCR = 2. The tests included isotropic consolidation, undrained triaxial compression with pore water pressure measurement, drained tests along controlled stress paths to investigate yielding behaviour, and undrained tests which involved heating and measurement of the resulting induced pore water pressures. The large strain strength envelope is independent of temperature. However, peak undrained strengths increase with temperature because smaller pore water pressures are generated during shearing. An important contribution from the study is a series of results for the yielding of illitic clay at three different temperatures. For the first time, there is clear evidence of yield loci decreasing in size with increasing temperature. An associated flow rule can be assumed without serious error. The results contribute to the confirmation of a thermal elastic-plastic soil model developed by the authors from cam clay following the addition of a small number of extra assumptions. Depending on the initial stress state, heating under undrained conditions may produce shear failure.     

Tectono-thermal evolution in a region with thin-skinned tectonics: the western nappes in the Cantabrian Zone (Variscan belt of NW Spain)

 The palaeotemperature distribution in the transition from diagenesis to metamorphism in the western nappes of the Cantabrian Zone (Somiedo, La Sobia and Aramo Units) are analysed by conodont colour alteration index (CAI) and illite crystallinity (IC). Structural and stratigraphic control in distribution of CAI and IC values is observed. Both CAI and IC value distributions show that anchizonal conditions are reached in the lower part of the Somiedo Unit. A disruption of the thermal trend by basal thrusts is evidenced by CAI and IC values. There is an apparent discrepancy between the IC and CAI values in Carboniferous rocks of the Aramo Unit; the IC has mainly anchizonal values, whereas the CAI has diagenetic values. Discrepant IC values are explained as a feature inherited from the source area. In the Carboniferous rocks of the La Sobia Unit, both IC and CAI indicate diagenetic conditions. The anchimetamorphism predated completion of emplacement of the major nappes; it probably developed previously and/or during the early stages of motion of the units. Temperature probably decreased when the metamorphosed zones of the sheets rose along ramps and were intensely eroded. In the context of the Iberian Variscan belt, influence of tectonic factors on the metamorphism is greater in the internal parts, where the strain and cleavage are always present, than in the external parts (Cantabrian Zone), where brittle deformation and rock translation are dominant, with an increasing role of the burial on the metamorphism. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 19 January 1999     

骨灰－伊利石－高岭石体系假相图的研究

采用骨灰、伊利石粘土和高岭石粘土作为端元组分,并根据DTA、热台显微镜、互RD方法测定的数据,组成了这个三元体系的假相图。依据假相图讨论了该体系的热相变特征以及有关骨灰瓷工艺学问题。     

Evidence of native radiation-induced paramagnetic defects in natural illites from unconformity-type uranium deposits

This study presents the first unequivocal identification of natural radiation-induced defects in illites. Middle Proterozoic illites related to unconformity-type uranium deposits of Canada and Australia were studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at X- and Q-band frequencies. The saturation behaviour of EPR spectra as a function of power demonstrates that native defects of illites are different from those known in other clays as kaolinite, dickite or smectite. Q-band spectra indicate the presence of several––at least two––native defects. The EPR signal is dominated by an axially distorted spectrum with apparent principal components as follows: g _∥ = 2.032 and g _⊥ = 1.993. The corresponding defect is named as A_i center. The study of oriented specimen confirms the strong anisotropy, and shows that the main defect has its g _∥ component perpendicular to the (ab) plane of illite. These defects in illite correspond to electron holes located on oxygen atoms of the structure and likely associated to Si, according to the lack of hyperfine structure. The A_i center in illite has similar EPR parameters to the A center in kaolinite and dickite. The isochronal annealing data suggest that illite can be used as a dosimeter in the geosphere. However, the determination of half-life and activation energy of the A_i center requires additional work.     

Clay coating preserving high porosities in deeply buried intervals of the Stø Formation

The Stø Formation is the most important reservoir interval in the Norwegian Barents Sea, however the reservoir quality can be highly affected by the detrimental effects of quartz cement where there have been extensive post depositional burial. Core plug data from well 7219/8-2 in the Southwestern Barents Sea shows abnormally high porosity and permeability values in certain units of the deeply buried and otherwise highly quartz cemented Stø Formation. The amount of quartz cement in the samples is inversely proportional to the porosity. Samples with high and low porosities are similar texturally and mineralogically, but the high porosity samples have a layer of illitic clay coating the majority of the detrital quartz grains. Illitic clay coating present at grain contacts can result in a lowered IGV given they aid in the dissolution of quartz at interfaces, also creating a source of dissolved silica. Clay induced dissolution means that silica saturation is not a limiting factor in quartz cementation in these samples. The results show that the illitic clay coating is capable of limiting the amount of authigenic quartz overgrowth from 20 to 23% in samples with negligible grain coating to 5–11% in the intervals with high coating coverage. The illitic clay coating inhibits quartz overgrowth by limiting the surface area available for nucleation on detrital grains. The Stø Formation comprises mainly shallow marine deposits of highly reworked clean sandstone. Abnormally high porosities appear to be linked to settings where sediments of a more proximal location are preserved without extensive reworking. The grain coating clay is illitic and most likely originates from clay infiltration processes prior to final deposition. The difference in extent of clay coating in similar facies can mostly be correlated with varying amount of post depositional reworking. This study suggests that there is a potential for considerable porosity and permeability to be preserved in deeply buried sandstones in the Barents Sea. This study could be important in the future exploration activity of deeply buried structures in the area.