Quick
Search: 		  
advanced search
 GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help 
Elements Signup for GSW Email News
JOURNAL HOME HELP CONTACT PUBLISHER SUBSCRIBE ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Elements; April 2009; v. 5; no. 2; p. 93-98; DOI: 10.2113/gselements.5.2.93
© 2009 Mineralogical Society of America
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Christidis, G. E.
Right arrow Articles by Huff, W. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation

Geological Aspects and Genesis of Bentonites

George E. Christidis1 and Warren D. Huff2

1 Technical University of Crete
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering
73100 Chania, Greece
E-mail: christid{at}mred.tuc.gr
2 Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
E-mail: warren.huff{at}uc.edu

Bentonites are clay rocks consisting predominantly of smectite. They form mainly from alteration of pyroclastic and/or volcaniclastic rocks. Extensive deposits, linked to large eruptions, have formed repeatedly in the past. Bentonite layers are useful for stratigraphic correlation and for interpreting the geodynamic evolution of our planet. Bentonites generally form by diagenetic or hydrothermal alteration, favoured by fluids that leach alkali elements and by high Mg content. Smectite composition is partly controlled by parent rock chemistry. Recent studies have shown that bentonite deposits may display cryptic variations in layer charge - i.e. the variations are not visible at the macroscopic scale - and these correlate with physical properties.

KEYWORDS: bentonite, smectite, glass alteration, stratigraphic correlation, cryptic variation, clay




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ELEMENTSHome page
D. D. Eisenhour and R. K. Brown
Bentonite and Its Impact on Modern Life
Elements, April 1, 2009; 5(2): 83 - 88.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ELEMENTSHome page
N. Guven
Bentonites - Clays for Molecular Engineering
Elements, April 1, 2009; 5(2): 89 - 92.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ELEMENTSHome page
L. B. Williams, S. E. Haydel, and R. E. Ferrell Jr.
Bentonite, Bandaids, and Borborygmi
Elements, April 1, 2009; 5(2): 99 - 104.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


JOURNAL HOME HELP CONTACT PUBLISHER SUBSCRIBE ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2009 by Mineralogical Society of America