Hydrothermal reactivity of saponite
Saponite crystallizes from amorphous gel having an ideal saponite composition within 7 days at all experimental temperatures between 300° and 550°C at 1 kbar pressure. Reactions subsequent to this initial crystallization vary in type and degree, depending on the temperature of reaction and the type of interlayer cation. Above 450°C the intitially crystallized K-saponite dissolves, and talc and phlogopite nucleate and grow as discrete phases. At 450°C the initial K-saponite reacts to form talc and phlogopite layers, but the reaction proceeds via intracrystalline layer transformations rather than via dissolution and precipitation, producing a mixture of fully ordered, interstratified talc/saponite and fully ordered saponite/ phlogopite. The K-saponite shows subtle signs of reaction at 400°C after 200 days: this temperature is at least 150°C lower than experimental reaction temperatures previously reported for saponites. No reactions beyond the initial crystallization of saponite were observed below 400°C. K-saponite reacts more rapidly than either Na-saponite or Ca-saponite above 400°C and the Na-saponite and Ca-saponite produce no mica iayers during their transformation to mixed-layer clays. Interstratified talc/saponite formed in the Na-saponite system, and the Ca-saponite system produced both talc/saponite and chlorite/saponite.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1983 |
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Title | Hydrothermal reactivity of saponite |
DOI | 10.1346/CCMN.1983.0310101 |
Authors | Gene Whitney |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Clays and Clay Minerals |
Index ID | 70012024 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |