Illite mineral synthesis at surface temperatures

Abstract

The synthesis of illite mixed-layer minerals at surface conditions is possible through precipitation of Al hydroxides from Si-, Mg- and K-containing solutions. It has been shown that amorphous hydroxides of Al, Fe, etc. are capable of coprecipitating silica even from very dilute solutions. By aging of these X-ray amorphous hydroxide—silica precipitates under certain conditions, clay minerals can be synthesized at low temperatures. The presence of Mg particularly favors the formation of three-layer clay minerals. Mg-rich Al hydroxide—silica precipitates permit formation of tri- and di-octahedral smectite, illite and chlorite. The formation of three-layer clay minerals is only possible when the precipitates contain at least 6% MgO. The precipitates stay amorphous if the Mg content is lower. The adsorption of Mg and K on the hydroxide—silica precipitate controls the illite or montmorillonite portion in the mixture of the three-layer silicates. There is a competition for K and Mg adsorption on the hydroxide—silica precipitates. Higher K concentration inhibits the three-layer mineral formation through the lowering of the Mg content in the precipitates. Illite mineral formation is favored under certain K/Mg ratios. Higher NaCl contents do not favor the three-layer mineral formation. The enrichment of Mg and K in the precipitates is not as large as the enrichment of Si in the hydroxides. This means that the illite mineral formation is only possible from solutions with a high-salt content like seawater.