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.