Physical Experiments and Mechanism Study on the Occurrence State of Hydrogen in Clay Minerals

In recent years,natural hydrogen has been discovered in various geological environments both domestically and internationally,which has sparked a global interest among geologists and led to a surge in the exploration of hydrogen gas(Klein et al.,2019;Prinzhofer et al.,2019;Moretti and Webber,2021;Scott,2021;Bezruchko,2022).However,there is a lack of research on the occurrence state of natural hydrogen gas,which hinders a deeper understanding of its behavior in underground storage and migration.

Types,composition and diagenetic evolution of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata:A case study of Mao-1 Member of Middle Permian Maokou Formation,eastern Sichuan Basin,SW China

The types,occurrence and composition of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata of the first member of the Middle Permian Maokou Formation(Mao-1 Member)in eastern Sichuan Basin were investigated through outcrop section measurement,core observation,thin section identification,argon ion polishing,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope,energy spectrum analysis and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.The diagenetic evolution sequence of clay minerals was clarified,and the sedimentary-diagenetic evolution model of clay minerals was established.The results show that authigenic sepiolite minerals were precipitated in the Si4+and Mg2+-rich cool aragonite sea and sepiolite-bearing strata were formed in the Mao-1 Member.During burial diagenesis,authigenic clay minerals undergo two possible evolution sequences.First,from the early diagenetic stage A to the middle diagenetic stage A1,the sepiolite kept stable in the shallow-buried environment lack of Al3+.It began to transform into stevensite in the middle diagenetic stage A2,and then evolved into disordered talc in the middle diagenetic stage B1and finally into talc in the period from the middle diagenetic stage B2to the late diagenetic stage.Thus,the primary diagenetic evolution sequence of authigenic clay minerals,i.e.sepiolite-stevensite-disordered talc-talc,was formed in the Mao-1 Member.Second,in the early diagenetic stage A,as Al3+carried by the storm and upwelling currents was involved in the diagenetic process,trace of sepiolite started to evolve into smectite,and a part of smectite turned into chlorite.From the early diagenetic stage B to the middle diagenesis stage A1,a part of smectite evolved to illite/smectite mixed layer(I/S).The I/S evolved initially into illite from the middle diagenesis stage A2to the middle diagenesis stage B2,and then totally into illite in the late diagenesis stage.Thus,the secondary diagenetic evolution sequence of authigenic clay minerals,i.e.sepiolite-smectite-chlorite/illite,was formed in the Mao-1 Member.The types and evolution of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata are significant for petroleum geology in two aspects.First,sepiolite can adsorb and accumulate a large amount of organic matters,thereby effectively improving the quality and hydrocarbon generation potential of the source rocks of the Mao-1 Member.Second,the evolution from sepiolite to talc is accompanied by the formation of numerous organic matter pores and clay shrinkage pores/fractures,as well as the releasing of the Mg2+-rich diagenetic fluid,which allows for the dolomitization of limestone within or around the sag.As a result,the new assemblages of self-generation and self-accumulation,and lower/side source and upper/lateral reservoir,are created in the Middle Permian,enhancing the hydrocarbon accumulation efficiency.

Clay minerals and elemental composition of sediments on different sedimentary units in the northern East China Sea shelf:provenance tracing and genetic mechanism analysis

The composition,provenance,and genetic mechanism of sediment on different sedimentary units of the East China Sea(ECS)shelf are essential for understanding the depositional dynamics environment in the ECS.The sediments in the northern ECS shelf are distributed in a ring-shaped distribution centered on the southwestern Cheju Island Mud.From the inside to the outside,the grain size goes from fine to coarse.Aside from the“grain size effect”,hydrodynamic sorting and mineral composition are important restrictions on the content of rare earth elements(REEs).Based on the grain size,REEs,and clay mineral composition of 300 surface sediments,as well as the sedimentary genesis,the northern ECS shelf is divided into three geochemical zones:southwestern Cheju Island Mud Area(ZoneⅠ),Changjiang Shoal Sand Ridges(ZoneⅡ-1),Sand Ridges of the East China Sea shelf(ZoneⅡ-2).The northern ECS shelf is mostly impacted by Chinese mainland rivers(the Changjiang River and Huanghe River),and the provenance and transport mechanism of sediments of different grain sizes is diverse.The bulk sediments come primarily from the Changjiang River,with some material from the Huanghe River carried by the Yellow Sea Coastal Current and the North Jiangsu Coastal Current,and less from Korean rivers.Among them,surface sediments in the southwestern Cheju Island Mud Area(ZoneⅠ)come mostly from the Changjiang River and partly from the Huanghe River.It was formed by the counterclockwise rotating cold eddies in the northern ECS shelf,which caused the sedimentation and accumulation of the fine-grained sediments of the Changjiang River and the Huanghe River.The Changjiang Shoal Sand Ridges(ZoneⅡ-1)were developed during the early-middle Holocene sea-level highstand.It is the modern tidal sand ridge sediment formed by intense hydrodynamic action under the influence of the Yellow Sea Coastal Current,North Jiangsu Coastal Current,and Changjiang Diluted Water.The surface sediments mainly originate from the Changjiang River and Huanghe River,with the Changjiang River dominating,and the Korean River(Hanjiang River)influencing just a few stations.Sand Ridges of the East China Sea shelf(ZoneⅡ-2)are the relict sediments of the paleo-Changjiang River created by sea invasion at the end of the Last Deglaciation in the Epipleistocene.The clay mineral composition of the surface sediments in the study area is just dominated by the Changjiang River,with the North Jiangsu Coastal Current and the Changjiang Diluted Water as the main transporting currents.

Distribution of clay minerals in surface sediments off Yangtze River estuary

Based on the clay minerals, content analysis from 187 stations in the surface sediments, this paper dealt with the assemblages and the distributions of clay minerals in the surface sediments off the Yangtze River estuary. The research results showed that the illite dominates the surface sediments off the Yangtze River estuary with the smectite or kaolinite the second rank and chlorite the third rank; the illite-smectite-kaolinite-chlorite-assemblage is the main type of the clay minerals assemblage in the area, with the illite-kaolinite-chlorite-smectite-type as the second rank; the source of clay mineral is mainly from the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The Q-type cluster analysis show that sediments from both recent and ancient Yellow River were deposited mainly in the northeast part of the study area to the north of 29°30′. Substance from the Yangtze River was deposited mainly in the western and middle parts off the Yangtze River estuary.

Bio-Mobilization of Potassium from Clay Minerals: I. By Ectomycorrhizas

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi on eucalyptus growth and K bio-mobilization from soils and clay minerals. In the experiment, sands mixed with soil, KCI-saturated vermiculate and mica, respectively, were used to nurse eucalyptus seedlings which were nonectomycorrhized or ectomycorrhized by an ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius strain XCI (Pt XC1) isolated from a forest soil from Xichang, Sichuan Province, China, and a worldwide well-known ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius strain 2144 (Pt 2144) obtained in Australia. More depletion of HCl-soluble K by mycorrhizas from the soil and minerals than nonmycorrhizas suggested that mycorrhizas had a great ability to mobilize K present in the interlayer and feldspar. Mycorrhizal seedlings depressed greatly K digested with HF-HCIO4 from substrates after consecutive extractions of soils and minerals by water, ammonium cetate and boiling HCl, while nonmycorrhizal seedlings reduced it little if any, showing that the mycorrhizal seedlings could mobilize and then utilize the structural K in mineral lattice. Ectomycorrhizal fungi played a very important role not only in promoting the growth of eucalyptus seedlings but also in mobilizing K in soils and minerals. The infection of Pt XC1 led to a better growth of eucalyptus seedlings and more K accumulation in the seedlings than that of Pt 2144. The large differences in K accumulation by the seedlings might be due to different abilities of the two ectomycorrhizal fungi to mobilize K in interlayer and lattice pools in the clay minerals.

Distribution and dispersal pattern of clay minerals in surface sediments,eastern Beibu Gulf,South China Sea

Clay minerology of sediments are useful in determining distribution, sources and dispersal routes of fine-grained sediments. In the present paper, clay minerals of surface sediments throughout the eastern part of Beibu Gulf has been investigated to reveal sources and transport of detrital fine- grained sediments. Four distinct clay mineral suites were observed from cluster analysis of clay mineral compositions of the samples. From the distribution pattern of clay minerals, we conclude that kaolinte in the eastern gulf is mainly derived from South China Landmass; Smectite could not be transported mainly by surface current from north-western Hainan Island, and maybe minor portion of it from Red River; Illite is mainly transported by the currents fl＇om South China Sea. Chlorite has two sources, namely South China Sea and South China Landmass. The Zhujiang River derived sediments could not be one of the sources for the clay mineral here, because of very different composition and ratios. The distribution pattern of clay minerals in the eastern Beibu Gulf is mainly controlled by fine-grained sediment source and local currents. The Silt/Clay, Smectite/Kaolinte, and Smetite/（Chlorite＋Illite） ratios could be used as indicators of fine-grained sediment dispersal in the gulf.

Clay minerals and geochemistry of the bottom sediments in the northwestern East China Sea

Clay minerals of 34 sediments collected from the northwestern continental shelf of the East China Sea have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The clay mineral distribution is mainly controlled by the sediment source and the dominant circulation pattern. The predominant clay mineral in our study area is illite comprising more than 67% of the whole clay fraction. The highest concentration of illite （〉68%） is found in the southeastern offshore parts beyond the reach of terrigenous input from the Jeju Island. It means that these illites are largely transported by the Kuroshio Current from the South China Sea （SCS）. Smectite is highly concentrated in the northwest middle part and in the outer-shelf mud patch. It seems to be due to the high supply of smectite transported from China where fine-grained sediments are discharged from modern and ancient Huanghe （Yellow） River. The relatively high abundant kaolinite is likely derived from the Changjiang （Yangtze） River via the Taiwan Warm Current. In contrast, large amounts of chlorite and high chlorite/kaolinite ratios occur in the northwestern area, reflecting the transportation by the Yellow Sea Coastal Current from the southern Yellow Sea. The discrimination diagrams clearly show that the sediments in the northwestern East China Sea are ultimately sourced from Chinese rivers, especially from the Huanghe River, whereas the sediment in the northeast part might come from the Jeju Island. The muddy sediments of the Changjiang River＇s submerged delta have much lower 87Sr/S6Sr ratios （0.716 2-0.718 0） than those of the Shandong Peninsular mud wedge （0.721 6-0.724 9）, which are supposed to be originated from the Huanghe River, suggesting the distribution pattern of 87Sr/86Sr ratios as a new tracer to discriminate the provenance of shelf sediments in the study area. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the outer-shelf muddy sediments ranged from 0.7169 to 0.7216 in a wide range and was between those of the Huanghe River and Changjiang River sediments, suggesting multiple sources of the sediment in the area.

Spatial Distribution and Longitudinal Variation of Clay Minerals in the Central Indian Basin

Grain size and clay mineral distribution up to 45 cm depth in the silty clay sediments from 26 box cores from 10°to 16°S along four longitudes（73.5°-76.5°E）were studied for understanding spatial variability in the Central Indian Basin（CIB）.It was observed that the average sand content in the basin is 3.8%,which decreases systematically and longitudinally to 0.3%towards south.The average illite and chlorite major clay mineral abundance also decrease southwards along the four longitudes from 10°S,and show the limit of influence of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river＇s supply up to 10°S.However, the average clay content increases from west to east in the basin,and southwards along 73.5°E and either side of the 76.5°E fracture zone（FZ）,which strongly suggests the possibility of clay supply due to circulation of Antarctic Bottom Water（AABW）from the south through the FZ.The distribution of four clay minerals along 73°and 76.5°E FZ in the CIB shows dissimilar trends of increase and decrease,and indicate a mix environment in the basin.This study indicates that the FZ in the CIB has an important role in controlling the distribution of clay minerals.

Advances in interaction mechanism of water(gas) on clay minerals in China

Dealing with large-scale deformations in soft-rock tunnels is a very important issue in soft-rock tunnel engineering. The mechanism of this large-scale deformation is closely related to the physical and chemical properties of soft rock, interaction between soft rock and water, and interaction between soft rock and gas contained in soft rock. In order to gain a better predictive understanding of the governing principles associated with this phenomenon, we used experimental and theoretical methods to study the effects of point defect on physical and chemical properties of soft rock and mechanism of interaction between water(gas) and soft rock. Firstly, we calculated the impurity formation energies and transition energy levels of defects by using the first-principle calculation, the results showed the microscopic mechanism of defects substitution in kaolinite and effects of defects on the structure of kaolinite. Moreover,comparing the experimental and theoretical results, we found the mechanism of interaction between water and soft rock. The results show that water is one of the most important factors which can induce various kinds of geological disasters. At last, the interaction between soft rock and surrounding gas as CO2, CH4 and CO is disused, the influence of surrounding gas on soft rock should not be ignored.

Pore Structure Characterization of Clay Minerals in the Lower Karamay Formation Conglomerate Reservoir in the Junggar Basin and its Impact on Hydrocarbon Storage and Seepage

The micro-nano pore structure of conglomerate in the Lower Karamay Formation of the Xinjiang Oilfield,Junggar Basin,northern China is characterized to predict its impact on fluid reserves and seepage.Authigenic clay minerals are mainly kaolinite(67%),followed by an illite/smectite mixed layer(18%),illite(10%),and chlorite(5%).For kaolinite,pore throats between 0–200 nm are dominant,accounting for 90%of the total pore throats.For illite/smectite mixed layer,pore throats also between 0–200 nm account for nearly 80%,while pore throats between 200-500 nm only account for 15%.For illite,pore throats below 100 nm account for about 80%,while pore throats in the range of 100–500 nm only account for 20%.For chlorite,most throats are below 200 nm.The pore roundness of illite is the highest,while the pore roundness of chlorite is relatively lower.The lower limits of the dynamic and static pore throat radii are 42.128 nm and 72.42 nm,respectively.The theoretical contribution rates of the illite/smectite mixed layer,kaolinite,illite and chlorite to storage/seepage are 60%/45.86%,52.72%/38.18%,37.07%/28.78%and 32.97%/26.3%,respectively.Therefore,the contribution rates of clay minerals in the study area are as follows:illite/smectite mixed layer,kaolinite,illite and chlorite.

Composition, Source and Environmental Indication of Clay Minerals in Sediments from Mud Deposits in he Southern Weihai Offshore, Northwestern Shelf of the South Yellow Sea, China

Studying the sedimentary characteristics of the muddy area along the Yellow Sea shelf is of great significance for deep-ening the understanding of the climate and environment evolution since the last glacial period.Recently,a small muddy area developed in the southern Weihai offshore has attracted a lot of attention.Based on high-resolution grain size,clay mineral,AMS14C,and OSL data of sediments from the core WHZK01 in the muddy area,we acquired a new understanding of sedimentary characteristics,sources and paleoclimatic environment during the last 13 kyr.The results show that the core WHZK01 sediments were mainly from the Yellow River and local rivers along the coast.However,the sources varied for different deposition units.The riverbed(before 13 kyr BP)and fluvial plain deposits(13-10 kyr BP)were mainly from local river inputs.The very thin littoral deposits from 10 kyr BP to 8 kyr BP also mainly originate from coastal river inputs,while the littoral-neritic deposits since 8 kyr BP were dominated by the Yellow River materials and partly supplied by the coastal rivers and the island erosion.In addition,five events related with the strong East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM)during the intervals of 13.0-11.0 kyr BP,10.0-8.2 kyr BP,7.0-5.0 kyr BP,3.5-2.5 kyr BP,and 1.2-0.5 kyr BP were iden-tified.Three events related with the enhancement of the EAWM since the middle Holocene have strengthened the transport capacity of the coastal currents of the Shandong Peninsula.Meanwhile,more Yellow River-derived distal sediments were deposited to the southern Weihai offshore and formed wedge-shaped muddy bodies.In short,the ratio of smectite/illite could be used as an effective EAWM indicator since 13 kyr BP on the northwestern shelf of the South Yellow Sea.

Patterns of Clay Minerals Transformation in Clay Gouge, with Examples from Revers Fault Rocks in Devonina Niqiuhe Formation in The Dayangshu Basin

The role of authigenic clay growth in clay gouge is increasingly recognized as a key to understanding the mechanics of berittle faulting and fault zone processes,including creep and seismogenesis,and providing new insights into the ongoing debate about the frictional strength of brittle fault(Haines and van der Pluijm,2012).However,neither the conditions nor the processes which

Main Clay Minerals in Soils of Fujian Province, China

The clay minerals of more than 200 soil samples collected from various sites of Fujian Province were studied by the X-ray diffraction method and transmission electron microscopy to study their distribution and evolution. Montmorillonite was found in coastal solonchak, paddy soils derived from marine deposit, lacustrine deposit and river deposit, and some latentic red soil, red soil and yellow soil with a low weathering degree. Chlorite existed mainly in coastal solonchak and paddy soil developed from marine deposit. 1.4 nm intergradient mineral appeared frequently in yellow soil, red soil and latentic red soil. The content of l.4 nm intergradient mineral increased with the decrease of weathering degree from latentic red soil to red soil to yellow soil. Hydrous micas were more in coastal solonchak, paddy soils derived from marine deposit, lacustrine deposit and river deposit, and purple soil from purple shale than in other soils. Kaolinite was the most important clay mineral in the soils in this province. The higher the soil weathering degree, the more the kaolinite existed. From yellow soil to red soil to latentic red soil, kaolinite increased gradually. Kaolinite was the predominant clay mineral accompanied by few other minerals in typical latentic red soil. Tubular halloysite was a widespread clay mineral in soils of Fujian Province with varying quantities. The soil derived from the parent rocks rich in feldspar contained more tubular halloysite. Spheroidal halloysite was found in a red soil and a paddy soil developed from olivine basalt. Gibbsite in the soils in this district was largely 'primary gibbsite' which formed in the early weathering stage. Gibbsite decreased with the increase of weathering degree from yellow soil to red soil to latentic red soil. Goethite also decreased in the same sequence while hematite increased.

The distribution characteristics of clay minerals in the northern South China Sea

The clay minearals are composed of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, montmorillonite and mixed-layer minerals in the submarine sediments of the northern South China Sea. Three types of clay mineral zone can be recognized on the basis of the distributive regularity of clay minerals, submarine relief, hydrodynamic conditions and depositional characteristics in this region. Apart from the northern mainland source, kaolinites carried from the Philippines volcanic arc in the east and Malaysia in the south are also assumed to be one of the sources of the clay minerals in the deep sea. The increase of chlorites to the abyssal direction in the west of 116° E might be associated with the residual chlorites carried from the ancient Zhujiang River during the glacial period and the conversion of kaolinite into chlorite submarine volcanoes appear to be one of the sources of the increment of montmorillonite and chlorite around the Huangyan Island. From the distribution pattern of clay minerals in the whole area, it is known that the types of clay mineral assemblage in the study area are mainly controlled by climate and rock types of the source are-

Features of Clay Minerals in the YSDP102 Core on the Continental Shelf of the Southeast Yellow Sea

Ninety-eight clay mineral samples from the YSDP102 core were analyzed by x-ray diffractometer to study the four clay minerals: illite, chlorite, kaolinite and smectite. Twenty-eight samples had been analyzed on the laser particle-size analyzer to reveal the particle features of the sediments. Distribution of the clay minerals and the particle characteristics in the YSDP102 core show that the core experienced three different depositional periods and formed three different sedimentary intervals due to different sediment sources and different depositional environments. Features of the clay minerals and the heavy minerals in the YSDP102 core indicate that coarse-grained sediments and fine-grained sediments result from different sources. The Yellow Sea Warm Current has greatly influenced the sedimentary framework of this region since the current’s formation.

Potassium forms in calcareous soils as affected by clay minerals and soil development in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province,Southwest Iran

Potassium（K） is known as one of the essential nutrients for the growth of plant species. The relationship between K and clay minerals can be used to understand the K cycling, and assess the plant uptake and potential of soil K fertility. This study was conducted to analyze the K forms（soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable and structural） and the relationship of K forms with clay minerals of calcareous soils in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Southwest Iran. The climate is hotter and drier in the west and south of the province than in the east and north of the province. A total of 54 pedons were dug in the study area and 32 representative pedons were selected. The studied pedons were mostly located on calcareous deposits. The soils in the study area can be classified into 5 orders including Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Alfisols and Vertisols. The main soil clay minerals in the west and south of the study area were illite, chlorite and palygorskite, whereas they were smectite, vermiculite and illite in the north and east of the province. Due to large amount of smectite and high content of organic carbon in soil surface, the exchangeable K in surface soils was higher than that in subsurface soils. It seems that organic matter plays a more important role than smectite mineral in retaining exchangeable K in the studied soils. Non-exchangeable K exhibited close relationships with clay content, illite, vermiculite and smectite. Although the amount of illite was the same in almost all pedons, amounts of structural and non-exchangeable K were higher in humid regions than in arid and semi-arid regions. This difference may be related to the poor reservoir of K~＋ minerals like palygorskite and chlorite together with illite in arid and semi-arid regions. In humid areas, illite was accompanied by vermiculite and smectite as the K~＋ reservoir. Moreover, the mean cumulative non-exchangeable K released by CaCl_2 was higher than that released by oxalic acid, which may be due to the high buffering capacity resulting from high carbonates in soils.

Clay Minerals Properties as Downhole Formation Pressure Indicator

The successful estimation of formation pressures （or formation pore gradient） is fundamental and the basis for many engineering works including drilling and oilfield development planning. Common log data are used for formation pressure calculation. Modern techniques for pressure prediction have several disadvantages, notably, incorrect account of the downhole nonsteady thermal field and clay mineral composition. We propose a way to overcome listed shortcomings： a technique for thermal field proper account while formation pressure estimation and a petrophysical model, which reflects relationships between clay minerals composition and rock properties, derived from log data.

Characterization of Soil Clay Minerals of the River Nile Sediments, Sohag Region, Egypt： Decomposition of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns

Up till now all the clay mineral studies on the soils of the River Nile flood plain in Egypt could not trace the very rapid mineral change observed in these soils. So, the clay mineralogy of the River Nile flood plain soils in Sohag region, Egypt, has been studied using the method of numerical analysis of X-ray diffraction recordings （curve decomposition） as a new, powerful tool for precise mineral identification. The X-ray patterns of the studied soil clay fraction show that 2：1 clay minerals are much more abundant than kaolinite and that this clay fraction contains fair amounts of K-feldspar and quartz. XRD pattems obtained on the 〈 2 μm fraction of the River Nile sediments indicate the presence of smectite, mixed-layer illite-expanding minerals, kaolinite, mica-illite and chlorite. The decomposed XRD patterns reveal significant changes in the mineralogy of the clays. The major clay phases present in the 4-11 20 range are well crystallized illite （10 A）, poorly crystallized illite （10.2-10.4 A）, two mixed-layer I-S （illite/smectite） minerals, one with a peak near 13.5 A （rich-smectite） and the other near 11 A （rich-illite）.

Thermal Properties of Some Turkish Peloids and Clay Minerals for Their Use in Pelotherapy

The thermal properties such as specific heat capacity and heat dissipation of peloids play an important role in therapeutic applications. Therefore, these properties were determined on the peloids samples taken from spas where peloid applications are used in Turkey. In addition, some pure clay minerals were investigated to determine their suitability as possible constituents of therapeutic peloids and to make recommendations for preparing the most usable peloids for thermal therapy. For this aim, the mineralogical and thermal properties of samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The mineralogical compositions of the peloid samples are not homogenous, and their clay mineral content is approximately 60%, and the most abundant clay mineral is calcium montmorillonite. The cooling time of peloids are between 20 and 25 minutes, which is suitable for therapy and thus these peloids are suitable for using in health problems requiring heat treatment. The samples have favorable heat dissipation capacity and partially cooling kinetics. Specific heat capacity of the peloid samples is partially appropriate for heat therapy and these values range from 0.60 to 1.41 J/g·°C, and partially high in peloids with high smectite content. The pure sepiolite samples have higher heat dissipation properties than those of other clay minerals especially illites and kaolinites. Ca-montmorillonite and kaolinite have the lowest specific heat values while sepiolite samples have higher values. Sepiolite and partly Na-Ca-montmorillonite are more appropriate than the other studied clay minerals as a peloid constituent especially for therapy of musculoskeletal pain.

Characteristics of Clay Minerals in the Northern South China Sea and Its Implications for Evolution of East Asian Monsoon since Miocene

Clay mineral assemblages, crystallinity, chemistry, and micromorphology of clay particles in sediments from ODP Site 1146 in the northern South China Sea （SCS） were analyzed, and used to trace sediment sources and obtain proxy records of the past changes in the East Asian monsoon climate since the Miocene, based on a multi-approach, including X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry （SEM-EDS）. Clay minerals consist mainly of illite and smectite, with associated chlorite and kaolinite. The illite at ODP Site 1146 has very well-to-well crystallinity, and smectite has moderate-to-poor crystallinity. In SEM the smectite particles at ODP Site 1146 often appear cauliflower-like, a typical micromorphology of volcanic smecites. The smectite at ODP Site 1146 is relatively rich in Si element, but poor in Fe, very similar to the smectite from the West Philippine Sea. In contrast, the chemical composition of illite at ODP Site 1146 has no obvious differences from those of the Loess plateau, Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Pearl River. A further study on sediment source indicates that smectite originates mainly from Luzon, kaolinite from the Pearl River, and illite and chlorite from the Pearl River, Taiwan and/or the Yangtze River. The clay mineral assemblages at ODP Site 1146 were not only controlled by continental eathering regimes surrounding the SCS, but also by the changing strength of the transport processes. The ratios of （illite＋chlorite）/smectite at ODP Site 1146 were adopted as proxies for the East Asian monsoon evolution. Relatively higher ratios reflect strongly intensified winter monsoon relative to summer monsoon, in contrast, lower ratios indicate a strengthened summer monsoon relative to winter monsoon. The consistent variation of this clay proxy from those of Loess plateau, eolian deposition in the North Pacific, planktonic, benthic foraminifera, and black carbon in the SCS since 20 Ma shows that three profound shifts of the East Asian winter monsoon intensity, and aridity in the Asian inland and the intensity of winter monsoon relative to summer monsoon, occurred at about 15 Ma, 8 Ma, and the younger at about 3 Ma. The phased uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan plateau may have played a significant role in strengthening the Asian monsoon at 15 Ma, 8 Ma, and 3 Ma.