CLAY MINERALS - USDA

clay MINERALSCD. BartonUnited States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Aiken,South Carolina, KarathanasisUniversity of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, MINERALS refers to a group of hydrous aluminosili-cates that predominate the clay -sized (<2 |xm) fraction ofsoils. These MINERALS are similar in chemical and structuralcomposition to the primary MINERALS that originate fromthe Earth's crust; however, transformations in thegeometric arrangement of atoms and ions within theirstructures occur due to weathering. Primary MINERALS format elevated temperatures and pressures, and are usuallyderived from igneous or metamorphic rocks. Inside theEarth these MINERALS are relatively stable, but transform-ations may occur once exposed to the ambient conditionsof the Earth's surface. Although some of the most resistantprimary MINERALS (quartz, micas, and some feldspars) maypersist in soils, other less resistant MINERALS (pyroxenes,amphiboles, and a host of accessory MINERALS ) are prone tobreakdown and weathering, thus forming secondaryminerals.

ations may occur once exposed to the ambient conditions of the Earth's surface. Although some of the most resistant primary minerals (quartz, micas, and some feldspars) may ... similar layer structure to that described for mica, but vary widely in layer charge and interlayer spacing due to the. 190 Clay Minerals presence of weakly bound cations ...

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  Structure, Mineral, Clay, Exposed, Clay minerals

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