THE manner in which water is adsorbed on clays has long been a matter for speculation. Structure determinations for the clay mineral hydrates throw new light on this question. These hydrates are the minerals vermicullite, hydrated halloysite and mont-morillonite. Their compositions, subject to iso-morphous replacements, are (OH)4Mg6Si8O20.8H2O; (OH)8Al4Si4O10.4H2O; and (OH)4Al4Si8O20.nH2O, respectively. Each structure contains sheets formed by joining tetrahedra of oxygen atoms around silicon atoms into interlocked hexagonal groupings as first described by Pauling1. These are combined with octahedra of oxygen atoms and hydroxyl ions about magnesium and aluminium ions, forming layers the compositions of which in a unit are given by the above formulæ.

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hexagonal speculation structure determinations

SRN.HNDRCKS,.Crystal Structures of the Clay Mineral Hydrates. 142 (3583),38-38.

SRN.HNDRCKS,"Crystal Structures of the Clay Mineral Hydrates" 142

SRN.HNDRCKS,"Crystal Structures of the Clay Mineral Hydrates"