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Composition and Origin of Smectite in Soils Derived from Basalt in Northern Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

D. Curtin
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, University College, Dublin 4, Ireland
G. W. Smillie
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, University College, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Abstract

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The sand and silt fractions of soils derived from Tertiary basalt in northeastern Ireland exhibit unusually high cation-exchange capacities. Smectite was identified by X-ray powder diffraction in all size fractions and was selectively dissolved by treatment with 1 N HCl and 0.5 N NaOH. Structural formulae, based on chemical analysis of the dissolved material, suggest that the smectite is intermediate in composition between a di- and a trioctahedral mineral and that the octahedral cation occupancy, together with the numbers of Mg and Fe atoms per unit cell, decreases with decrease in particle size of the soil fraction examined. The mean formula for the smectite in the clay separates is:

M+0.40(Si3.33Al0.67)(Al1.07Fe2+0.09 Fe3+0.41Mg0.82)O10(OH)2.

Similar analysis of smectite present in clay-size material separated from weathered basalt rock taken from the bases of the soil profiles showed that it had close to the full trioctahedral occupancy. It is suggested that the soil smectite is a weathering product of the trioctahedral smectite inherited from the weathered basalt.

Резюме

Резюме

Песчаные и илистые фракции почв, полученных из третичного базальта в северовосточной Ирландии, показывают необыкновенно высокие катионо-обменные способности. При помощи рентгеновской порошковой дифракции во фракциях всех размеров был обнаружен смектит, который был селективно растворен путем обработки 1 N НСl и 0,5 N NaOH. Структурные формулы, основанные на химическом анализе растворенного материала, указывают на то, что смектит имеет промежуточный состав между двух- и трехоктаэдрическими минералами и что как катионное заполнение октаэдрических мест, так и количество атомов Mg и Fe в элементарной ячейке уменьшаются с уменьшением размера частиц исследованной фракции почв. Средняя формула для смектита во фракциях глин:

M+0.40(Si3.33Al0.67)(Al1.07Fe2+0.09Fe3+0.41Mg0.82)O10(OH)2.

Похожий анализ смектита, присутствующего в материале размера глины, выделенного из выветренной базальтовой породы основы почвенных профилей, показал, что этот материал был близкий к вполне трехоктаэдрическому заполнению. Можно предположить, что почвенный смектит является продуктом эрозии трехоктаэдрического смектита, унаследованного их выветренного базальта. [Е.С.]

Resümee

Resümee

Die Sand- und Siltfraktion von Böden, die aus tertiäen Basalten in NE Irland entstanden sind, zeigen ein ungewöhnlich großes Kationenaustauschvermögen. Aufgrund der Röntgenpulverdiffraktometerdiagramme handelt es sich in allen Kornfraktionen um Smektit. Der Smektit wurde selektiv durch Behandlung mit 1 N HCl und 0,5 N NaOH gelöst. Strukturformeln, die auf der chemischen Analyse des gelösten Materials beruhen, deuten darauf hin, daß der Smektit in der Zusammensetzung zwischen einem di- und einem trioktaedrischen Smektit liegt, und daß die oktaedrische Platzbesetzung zusammen mit der Zahl tier Mg- und Fe-Atome pro Elementarzelle mit abnehmender Partikelgröße der untersuchten Bodenfraktion abnimmt. Die allgemeine Formel des Smektit aus der Tonfraktion lautet: M+0.40(Si3.33Al0.87)(Al1.07Fe2+0.09Fe3+0,41Mg0,82)O10(OH)2. Eine ähnliche Analyse von Smektit, der aus der Tonfraktion des verwitterten Basalts von der Basis des Bodenprofils genommen wurde, zeigte, daß er eine nahezu vollständige trioktaedrische Besetzung hat. Es wird angenommen, daß der Boden-Smektit ein Verwitterungsprodukt des trioktaedrischen Smektit aus dem verwitterten Basalt ist. [U.W.]

Résumé

Résumé

Les fractions de sable et de vase dérivées d'un basalt Tertiaire d'Irlande du nord-est exhibent des capacités d’échange d’électrons inhabituellement élevées. La smectite a été identifiée par diffraction poudrée aux rayons-X dans les fractions de toutes tailles e t a 6t6 s61ectivement dissolue par un traitement au 1 N HCl et 0,5 N NaOH. Des formules structurales, basées sur une analyse chimique du matériau dissolu suggèrent que la composition de la smectite est entre un minéral di- et trioctaèdre et que l'occupation du cation octaèdre, ainsi que les nombres d'atomes de Mg et Fe par maille décroissent proportionnellement à la décroissance de la taille de particule de la fraction de sol examin'ee. La formule moyenne pour la smectite dans les argiles est: M+0.40(Si3.33Al0.67)(Al1.07Fe2+0.09Fe3+0.41Mg0.82)O10(OH)2. Une analyse semblable de smectite présente dans le matériau de taille de l'argile séparé d'une roche de basalt altérée prise des bases des proviles de sol montre qu'elle avait près de l'occupation trioctaèdre totale. On suggère que la smectite du sol est un produit d'altération de la smectite octaèdre héritée du basalt altéré. [D.J.]

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1981, The Clay Minerals Society

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