Regularly Interstratified Montmorillonite-Chlorite in Basalt

J. W. Earley
1955 Clays and clay minerals  
The dmninant clay mineral in an amygdaloidal basalt from Mozambique is a mixed-layer variety having a highly regular alternation of montmorillonite-like and chlorite-like layers. The montmorillonite-chlorite occurs in the amygdules as green rosettes having a fine fibrous structure. X-ray examination of this mineral shows a long spacing of about 29 A in air and a fairly well-developed sequence of basal spacings. The long spacing shows some variation which is dependent on the relative humidity of
more » ... the air surrounding the sample. The montmorillonitelike layers expand with glycerol and contract with heat treatment similar to montmorillonite, while the chlorite-like layers show modified reflection intensities on beating similar to chlorite. The mineral shows a 31.7 A spacing when glycerol saturated and a 23.3 A spacing when fully dehydrated.
doi:10.1346/ccmn.1955.0040142 fatcat:c4kadm5rsjhtdncosphbtn6jxi