In:
Clays and Clay Minerals, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 57, No. 1 ( 2009-02), p. 72-81
Abstract:
In Ecuador, DINAGE (known today as the Servicio Geológico Nacional) and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources have discovered a huge allophane deposit covering an area of 〉 4000 km 2 . This study presents the results from an investigation of a 16-m thick vertical sequence from this deposit, supposedly the weathering product of two different volcanic ash deposits. In particular, the distribution of alkali metals within the uppermost layer indicates that the weathering process is still ongoing. According to the mineralogical composition, an allophane-rich layer (allophane facies) could be distinguished from the underlying halloysite-rich layer (halloysite facies). A 2-m thick transition zone is characterized by the presence of gibbsite and intermediate specific surface area values. Only a few imogolite fibers could be identified (by scanning electron microscopy), indicating the dominance of allophane over imogolite in the allophane facies. Single allophane particles were investigated by atomic force microscopy, though this method was less accurate than transmission electron microscopy with respect to the determination of the primary particle diameter. Carbon isotope analysis ( 14 C) suggested an age of ∼20,000 y for the allophane layer. Within the allophane facies, a 4-m thick layer occurs containing 70–80 wt.% allophane with an N 2 -BET specific surface area of 〉 300 m 2 /g. Based on infrared and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements, an Al/Si ratio of 1.3–1.4 was established for this allophane, which is between Al-rich and Si-rich allophane. The allophane layer may be of economic value due to the large allophane content, the small amount of organic matter, and the significant thickness of the deposit.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0009-8604
,
1552-8367
DOI:
10.1346/CCMN.2009.0570107
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2009
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2045991-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
221428-3
SSG:
13
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