Crystallochemistry, properties and organization of soil clays derived from major sedimentary rocks in France

Abstract

The nature, crystallochemistry, organization and surface properties of soil clays derived from the most representative sedimentary formations of France are described, using qualitative and quantitative mineralogical methods and high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM). The main results show that soil clays differ significantly from reference clays. Even when 2:1 phyllosilicates are dominant, the clays always contain multimineral phases. The smectitic component is dioctahedral and of beidellite type. Soil clay organization is specific: all the clay particles have a short lateral extension and few layers (mean 5 layers, and even mono-layers occur). The superposition of such small particles leads to the formation of what are called “texturally interstratified minerals” which are dominant in soil clays. Exchange and surface properties (high ratio of external surface to total surface area), are related to clay organization.