Spanish montmorillonites from Frente Archidona were used to demonstrate the determination of charge density, CEC and, in mixtures, the montmorillonite content by the aikylammonium method. Special attention is directed to heterogeneous montmorillonites and the determination of the charge density distribution. Some problems which arise by application of the method are discussed: relations between layer charge and cation densities, particle size corrections, microstructures and unsymmetric charge distributions in the interlayer spaces.

Lepidocrocite was synthesized from the oxidation of FeCl2 solutions with and without soluble Si and at various Fe(II) concentrations and pH. Pure well crystallized lepidocrocite was only obtained if CO2 was excluded (to prevent goethite formation) and if pH was kept between 5 and 7 (to prevent maghemite and ferrihydrite formation). Si in solution prevented crystallization of lepidocrocite with increasing Si/Fe atomic ratio (varied between 0 and 0·156) and at the same ratio with decreasing pH. Most of the Si added is probably included in the lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite structure (up to 4·4% Si) and these Si contents are linearly correlated with the initial Si/Fe ratio. No indication from XRD and i.r. spectroscopy was found for changes in the lepidocrocite structure due to Si uptake. The ferrihydrite containing 4·35% Si showed a broad Si-O-stretching vibration which in contrast to pure silica (1080 cm−1) is shifted to lower frequencies (940 cm−1) indicating some Si-O-Fe bonds.

The location of iron in five deferrated soil kaolinites and several reference samples has been investigated using chemical analyses, acid dissolution and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The iron of most of the kaolinites can be divided into a 'structural iron' content, measured by the amount of iron, dissolved at the same rate as aluminium by acid attack, and a 'resistant iron' content, which is concentrated with the residues.

Integration of the geff~4 resonance bands of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra allows a semiquantitative estimate of the 'structural iron' in the samples. A multiple relationship seems to exist between the crystallinity index, the 'structural iron' content and the shape and intensity of both geff~4 and geff~2 EPR signals. The tropical soil kaolinites are a peculiar category with a high content of iron (>2% structural Fe2O3) fire-clay kaolinite, low crystallinity and a specific EPR spectrum exhibiting strong geff~4 resonance bands and no or weak geff~2 sharp doublet.

Beidellite clays near Chang-yuan, 80 km south of Hwalien, form vein-like bodies 5-10 m wide and 20-45 m deep. Andesitic rocks have been fractured by faulting permitting hydrothermal solutions to percolate and produce an altered mineral assemblage in which beidellite is associated with a mixed-layer illite-smectite, kaolinite, dusty pyrite, microquartz, cristobalite, calcite and dolomite, plagioclase, and gypsum. Ca-clay is common on outcrops and subsurface, where the clay is leached, Na-clay is found; some outcrops are partly kaolinized. Chemical analyses of the beidellite show that the structure is charged predominantly in the tetrahedral sheets. Exchange capacities are mainly in the range 120-140 mEq/100 g clay (110°C); exchangeable cations are Na ≫ Ca ≃ Mg > K. After K saturation and heating, ten samples still expand to near 17 A with ethylene glycol, but the two samples with the highest tetrahedral charge expand only to 14·6-15·0 Å although their total charge is similar to the other samples.

Two outcrops were studied which showed granite in the early stages of weathering. Reactions between specific mineral species were observed, and especially the formation of an illite-like phase which is similar to that of sedimentary illite. This phase has a composition distinct from that of the initial micas in the rocks, notably in its iron and magnesium content. This suggests solution-solid equilibria which involve ionic transfer beyond the grain bondary region where the mineral is found.

Tornando corno base las conclusiones obtenidas en trabajos anteriores sobre las variables significativas en la genesis de gibsita bajo clima templado, se han seleccionado cinco perfiles de alteration de granitos. En esas condiciones los datos termodinàmicos indican que este mineral no puede originarse nunca por un proceso de hidrólisis tipicamente inorgànica. El mecanismo propuesto, complejación del aluminio con àcidos fùlvicos y posterior evolución a gibsita, se muestra corno el mas probable. Se sugiere también que està gibsita puede combinarse con silice para dar lugar a caolinita. Ambos minerales, pues, tienen un posible origen esencialmente orgànico. Este hecho explica la vinculación caolinita y/o gibsita con determinados tipos de vegetación.