Chapter 2 continued 2:1 phyllosilicates
Isomorphous Substitution Substitution, during formation, of one ion for another of similar SIZE (but not necessarily the same charge) in an ionic solid without changing the structure (shape, morphology) of the crystal. Isomorphic = “same shape”
2 Tetrahedral sheets octahedral sheet
Form 2:1 minerals
Oreo cookies serve as models for layer minerals (phyllosilicates) One Oreo can be a mica or smectite-type mineral First proposed by Jerry Irvin at UCR
Muscovite (Tet’l sub’n) K 2 [(Si 6, Al 2 )] IV [Al 4 ] VI O 20 (OH) 4 (6 x Si 4+ ) + (6 x Al 3+ ) = 42+ (20 x O 2- ) +(4 x OH 1- ) = = -2 Net charge = -2 Satisfied by 2 x K 1+ ions that are “fixed” or tightly held in interlayer Pyrophyllite (no sub’n) [Si 8 ] IV [Al 4 ] VI O 20 (OH) 4 (8 x Si 4+ ) + (4 x Al 3+ ) = 44+ (20 x O 2- ) +(4 x OH 1- ) = = 0 Net charge = 0
Pyrophyllite Muscovite
2:1 minerals with low layer charge (x) Smectitesx = 0.4 – 1.2 Dioctahedral Montmorillonite M x,H 2 O [Si 8 ][Al,Mg] 4 O 20 (OH) 4 Beidellite M x,H 2 O [Si,Al] 8 [Al 4 ]O 20 (OH) 4 Nontronite M x,H 2 O [Si,Al] 8 [Fe +3 ] 4 O 20 (OH) 4 Trioctahedral SaponiteM x,H 2 O [Si,Al] 8 [Mg 6 ]O 20 (OH) 4 HectoriteM x,H 2 O [Si 8 ][Mg,Li] 6 O 20 (OH) 4
Low-charge smectite properties Shrink-swell characteristics Plastic High S.A. (both external + internal or interlayer area) = m 2 /g High CEC; cmol/kg Expansive - c-spacing variable with cation saturation and heat (1.0 –2.0 nm) Very small particles (fine clay) Flakey shape (e.g., corn flakes)
Authigenic smectite (montmorillonite) overgrown on pore spaces and authigenicly-overgrown quartz grains in a sandstone.
Quartz. This SEM (scanning electron microscope) photograph shows authigenic quartz crystals and smectite clay coating another mineral grain. authigenicquartzsmectiteclaycoatingmineral
Montmorillonite www-esd.lbl.gov/sposito/figure created by Dr. Sung-Ho Park
surface cracks in Vertisol (Utah) soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/i/Vert_07b.jpg
soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/vertisols_07.htm Damage to buildings on Vertisols