A complete conversion series for mica/smectites was found in a hydrothermal alteration envelope around Kuroko-type ore deposits at the Shinzan area, Akita Prefecture, Northeast Japan. The minerals are an alteration product of volcanic glass of Miocene age and are commonly associated with zeolites and silica minerals. Degrees of ordering of interstratification of the minerals change discontinuously from Reichweite g = 0 (100–55% expandable layers) to g = 1 (45–20% expandable layers), and from g = 1 to g = 2 (<20% expandable layers). This pattern of conversion differs from the behavior of mica/smectites during burial diagenesis which undergo a continuous change in ordering type, and from the behavior of rectorite which displays a constant expandability and ordering (45–55%) over a wide range of conditions. Differences between these minerals were also found in the relationships between expandability and total layer charge, and between expandability and number of non-exchangeable interlayer cations. In mica/smectites from the Shinzan area, chemical changes in the interlayers and tetrahedral and octahedral sites are consistent with a reaction in which K-enrichment and K-fixation in the interlayers are controlled by an increase in negative layer charge. This conversion occurred in response to a steep geothermal gradient and migrating hydrothermal solutions.

Spherical kaolinite has been synthesized for the first time from noncrystalline aluminosilicate material in hydrothermal experiments conducted between 150° and 250°C and under autogenous vapor pressure. Spherules, whose mean diameters depended on growth conditions (0.1–0.6 μm), were formed surrounding the noncrystalline aluminosilicate in all products of 150° and 200°C runs and coexisted with platy or lath-shaped kaolinite in the products of 250°C runs. The estimated percentages of spherules in the products increased from about 1% in the 150°C-15 days product to about 74% in 200°C-8 days product, and decreased from about 21% in 250°C-2 days product to 0% in 250°C-8 days product. Lattice images by high-resolution electron microscope indicated that the spherules consisted of nearly concentric stackings of layers with a unit spacing of 7Å, which were sectored by radiating boundaries. The mean chemical composition of the spherules (Al2O3/SiO2 = 0.58) analyzed by the analytical electron microscope is similar to that of kaolinite (Al2O3/SiO2 = 0.5). Even in the case of the product abundant in spherule (200°C-8 days), X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the wetted products, e.g., of the 200°C-8 day run, showed the 7.14-Å (001) reflection of kaolinite. The 020 reflection was broad, indicating the existence of abundant (001) layer displacements. The b axis (8.94 Å) were within the kaolinite range (8.93–8.94 Å). No infrared absorption peaks were observed at 3550 cm−1 which would correspond to halloysite. The differential thermal analysis slope ratios of the endothermic peak at about 550°C (1.4–2.3) were in the kaolinite range (0.78–2.39).

Sedimentologic zones that are differentiated by changes in lithology, mineralogy, chemical composition, and crystal morphology observable in scanning electron micrographs occur in Missouri high-alumina clay deposits. These properties and changes suggest that the high-alumina materials originated from Pennsylvanian-age, paludal sediments deposited in depressions underlying Paleozoic carbonate rocks. Alumina was relatively enriched in zones of the deposits by leaching of silica and of alkali and alkaline earth metals from the sediments. The most intense leaching occurred on the highest parts of the Ozark Dome.

Diaspore is the predominant high-alumina mineral. Boehmite, although far less abundant than diapsore, may have paragenetically preceded diaspore in some deposits. Chlorite, presumably an Al-rich variety because the content of MgO is typically <0.5%, is also present. Li, which is sporadically present, is inferred to have accumulated in the chlorite which may be a proto-variety of cookeite. Because Li+ and Al3+ are similar in size, Li is inferred to have accompanied Al as a resistate element in contrast to K and Na which were leached from parent phyllosilicates.

Smectite with polyvalent cations on the exchange complex readily absorbed riboflavin from aqueous solution to a limit of about 0.5 mmole/g. The shape of the adsorption isotherms was of the Langmuir type. An exception was Na+-smectite which provided an S-shaped isotherm and smaller amounts of adsorption. Ca2+-vermiculite had no interlamellar adsorption of riboflavin, suggesting that this mineral does not swell sufficiently to permit such adsorption. Adsorption isotherms, X-ray powder diffraction data, and UV-visible spectroscopic data suggest that the mechanisms of interaction between smectite and riboflavin may involve a combination of ion-dipole, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding, and physical effects.

Two rapid methods for the decomposition and chemical analysis of clays were adapted for use with 20–40-mg size samples, typical amounts of ultrafine products (<0.5-μm diameter) obtained by modern separation methods for clay minerals. The results of these methods were compared with those of “classical” rock analyses. The two methods consisted of mixed lithium metaborate fusion and heated decomposition with HF in a closed vessel. The latter technique was modified to include subsequent evaporation with concentrated H2SO4 and re-solution in HCl, which reduced the interference of the fluoride ion in the determination of Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Results from the two methods agree sufficiently well with those of the “classical” techniques to minimize error in the calculation of clay mineral structural formulae. Representative maximum variations, in atoms per unit formula of the smectite type based on 22 negative charges, are 0.09 for Si, 0.03 for Al, 0.015 for Fe, 0.07 for Mg, 0.03 for Na, and 0.01 for K.