What is beidellite?

What is beidellite?

Definition of beidellite : a mineral ideally Ca0. 16Al3Si3. 17O10(OH)2 that is a common constituent of certain clays and consists of basic aluminosilicate with exchangeable calcium, sodium, or other cation.

Is montmorillonite a smectite?

Montmorillonite belongs to the smectite family and is composed of two silica-based tetrahedral sheets with water molecules within the interlayer sheets and are easily available for the incoming contaminants.

How is smectite formed?

Smectite forms by alteration of volcanic glass, feldspars, mafic silicates, and other aluminosilicate minerals as well as by direct precipitation from solution. Soil smectite also forms from clay mineral precursors such as illite, chlorite, and vermiculite as well as the disordered phases imogolite and allophane.

Is China clay a mineral?

Kaolin, or ‘china clay’ as it is commonly called, is a hydrated aluminum silicate crystalline mineral formed over many millions of years by the hydrothermal decomposition of granite rocks. Hydrous kaolin is characterized by its fine particle size, plate-like or lamellar particle shape, and chemical inertness.

What is bentonite used for?

Bentonite is the active protective layer of geosynthetic clay liners. Drilling: Another conventional use of bentonite is as a mud constituent for oil and water well drilling. Its roles are mainly to seal the borehole walls, to remove drill cuttings and to lubricate the cutting head.

Is bentonite clay same as montmorillonite clay?

Montmorillonite clays and Bentonite clays are one and the same thing. All types of Bentonite clays are grouped together under the Montmorillonite or Smectite group of clays. To speak of one is to speak of the other. various brands have used different names for the same thing.

What is smectite mineral?

A highly plastic clay mineral related to montmorillonite (bentonite), more correctly, the name of the group on minerals that includes montmorillonite and other similar minerals.