Wettability of different clay mineral surfaces in shale:Implications from molecular dynamics simulations

Shale contains a lot of clay minerals. Clay minerals mainly exist in nano- and micro-meter sized particles, and the pore structure is complex, which leads to its extremely complex wettability. The surface wettability of clay minerals significantly affects the oil and gas-bearing capacity of shale reservoirs. Therefore, studying the wettability of common clay minerals in shale at the nanoscale is of great significance for shale hydrocarbon exploration and development. In this study, the wetting behavior of water in n-hexane and toluene on different clay mineral surfaces at the nanoscale was systematically studied using Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. And the influencing factors of wettability were analyzed. Through the analysis of the morphological changes of water, relative concentration of water, RDF and interaction energy, it is concluded that the following order of water wettability on the surfaces of clay minerals: montmorillonite > chlorite > kaolinite > illite. Through the analysis of interaction energy, it is concluded that the hydrophilicity of four clay minerals is stronger than that of lipophilicity. And the main interactions between water and oil and the mineral surfaces were van der Waals force and electrostatic force. In addition, the temperature, liquid hydrocarbon type, and mineralization of water affected the wettability of clay minerals. The concentration of water on the surfaces of montmorillonite, kaolinite, and illite decreased with increasing temperature, and the water wettability decreased. At 298 K, the hydrophilicity of the surfaces of the clay minerals in toluene follows the order montmorillonite > chlorite > kaolinite > illite. The higher the NaHCO3 concentration in water, the weaker the wettability of the clay mineral surfaces to water. By comparing the previous experimental results with the MD simulation results, similar wetting characteristics were obtained, and the reliability of the simulation results was verified. MD simulation was used to explore the water wetting of the surfaces of four clay minerals in a shale reservoir from the micro level. This makes up for the lack of experimental means for clarifying the flow and production mechanisms of shale oil and gas and effectively improves the evaluation technology of shale.

Clay mineral compositions in the surface sediment of the Chanthaburi coast(northeastern Gulf of Thailand)and their implications on sediment provenance

Clay mineral composition represents an important tracer of sediment source area,migration processes,and paleoclimatic conditions.Clay mineral analysis was performed on 15 surface sediment samples collected from the coast of Chanthaburi,Thailand.Results show that the composition of clay minerals in the study area differs substantially from that in surrounding regions of the Gulf of Thailand.The clay minerals of the Chanthaburi coast are dominated by kaolinite(~56%),followed by smectite(~21%),illite(~14%),and low concentrations of chlorite(~8%).The average illite chemistry index and crystallinity are 0.93 and 0.32,respectively.Comparative analysis of the clay mineral composition of surface sediments in several typical areas around the Gulf of Thailand indicated that the clays of the Chanthaburi coast are mainly derived from parent rock weathering in the small watersheds of the Chanthaburi and Welu rivers and the surrounding islands.Terrestrial input from the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand(excluding the Mekong River)was previously considered negligible;however,the present results indicate that such input has impact on the eastern Gulf of Thailand.The warm humid climatic conditions in Southeast Asia are the primary factors that affect the strong chemical weathering in the study area,followed by the nature of the parent rock.

Rheological mechanical properties and its constitutive relation of soft rock considering influence of clay mineral composition and content

Rheological mechanical properties of the soft rock are afected signifcantly by its main physical characteristics-clay mineral.In this study,taking the mudstone on the roof and foor in four typical mining regions as the research object,frstly,the clay mineral characteristic was analyzed by the X-ray difraction test.Subsequently,rheological mechanical properties of mudstone samples under diferent confning pressures are studied through triaxial compression and creep tests.The results show that the clay mineral content of mudstone in diferent regions is diferent,which leads to signifcant diferences in its rheological properties,and these diferences have a good correlation with the content of montmorillonite and illite-montmorillonite mixed layer.Taking the montmorillonite content as an example,compared with the sample with 3.56%under the lower stress level,the initial creep deformation of the sample with 11.19%increased by 3.25 times,the viscosity coefcient and longterm strength decreased by 80.59%and 53.94%,respectively.Furthermore,based on the test results,the damage variation is constructed considering the montmorillonite content and stress level,and the M–S creep damage constitutive model of soft rock is established.Finally,the test results can be ftted with determination coefcients ranging from 0.9020 to 0.9741,which proves that the constitutive relation can refect the infuence of the clay mineral content in the samples preferably.This study has an important reference for revealing the long-term stability control mechanism of soft rock roadway rich in clay minerals.

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.

Clay mineral distribution characteristics of surface sediments in the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Clay minerals are usually considered as important indicators to identify sources in both terrigenous and marine sediments.In particular,clay minerals in metalliferous sediments(MS)have long been studied in global oceans except in South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)due to limited explorations.Thus,32 MS and 34 non-MS(NMS)samples were analyzed to clarify the distribution characteristics and mineral compositions of clay minerals.All the sediments were collected along the SMAR between 12°S and 27°S.After removal of organic matter and carbonate,clay fractions(<2μm)were investigated by Xray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Results show that clay mineral assemblages of surface MS consist dominantly of smectite,less abundant illite,chlorite,and kaolinite in average weight percentage of 30%,21%,18%,and 16%,respectively.On the other hand,clay mineral assemblages in the NMS consist mainly of illite,less abundant kaolinite,chlorite,and very scarce smectite in average weight percentage of 47%,29%,24%,and 0.2%,respectively.The clay fractions in MS are mainly composed of amorphous or poorly crystallized Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides,clay mineral,quartz,and plagioclase.However,the counterparts in the NMS are mainly composed of well-crystallized clay minerals,quartz,and plagioclase without the presence of Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides.It is suggested that most of the illite,kaolinite,and chlorite in both MS and NMS are likely aeolian dust in origin from South Africa continent.In addition,the abundance of kaolinite dominates the clay mineral assemblage at low latitudes,where the intensive chemical weathering of continental source rocks facilitating the formation of kaolinite.In terms of smectite,it is indicated of authigenic origin in consideration of only smectite is available in several MS and the absence in NMS.Moreover,the MS samples with only smectite available are always accompanied by goethite.Therefore,it is assumed that most of smectite occurred in studied area is the results of interaction between hydrothermal Fe-oxyhydroxide,silica,and seawater.

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.

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, During the Lastdeglacial: Weathering, Erosion and Vegetation Cover Affect Clay Mineral Formation

With the analysis of the sources and formation mechanism of the clay minerals in the sediment core from the Dalianhai lake in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau,clay mineral composition proxies,grain-size and carbonate contents have been employed for high-resolution study in order to reconstruct East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） over the northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau during the lastdeglacial.The study also extended to establish a relationship between vegetation cover changes and erosion during the last 14.5 ka with pollen record and clay mineral proxies.Smectite/kaolinite and smectite/（illite＋chlorite） ratios allow us to assess hydrolysis conditions in lowlands and/or physical erosion process in highlands of the Gonghe Basin.Before 12.9 Cal ka BP,both mineralogical ratios show low values indicative of strong physical erosion in the basin with a dominant cold and dry phase.After 12.9 Cal ka BP,an increase in both mineralogical ratios indicates enhanced chemical weathering in the basin associated with a warm and humid climate.The beginning of Holocene is characterized by high smectite/（illite＋chlorite） and smectite/kaolinite ratios that is synchronous as with deposition of many peat laminae,implying the best warm and humid conditions specifically between 8.0 to 5.5 Cal ka BP.The time interval after 5.0 Cai ka BP is characterized by a return to high physical erosion and low chemical weathering with dry climate conditions in the basin.Comparing variations of clay mineral assemblages with previous pollen results,we observe a rapid response in terms of chemical weathering and physical erosion intensity to a modification of the vegetation cover in the basin.

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.

Study of Adsorption Properties and Enriching RE on Clay Minerals by Ouantum Chemical Calculation

The order of adsorbability of three kinds of clay minerals and their selectivity of adsorption to common cations and RE ions have been studied by quantum chemical calculation.They are as follows: montmorilionite>halloysite>kaolinite,RE^(3+)>Al^(3+)>Ca^(2+)>Mg^(2+)>K^+>NH_4^+>Na^+,Sc^(3+)>La^(3+)> Ce^(3+)>Pr^(3+)>Nd^(3+)>Sm^(3+)>Eu^(3+)>Gd^(3+)>Tb^(3+)>Dy^(3+)>Ho^(3+)>Y^(3+)>Er^(3+)>Tm^(3+)>Yb^(3+)>Lu^(3+).Based on these orders,the facts that RE is preferentially adsorbed in weathered residual type of clay mineral and light RE and heavy RE are enriched at the upper layer and at the lower layer respectively in ore body have been explained.

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.

A New Method for Clay Mineral Analysis and Its Application in Geology

X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks in a low-angle diffraction section of clayminerals, especially those of authigenic origin, have broadening and tailing features in shape.Using the five basic parameters, peak position, peak height, width, shape coefficient and asymmetry,to describe an XRD peak is more accurate, comprehensive and integrated than using only 3 of them,position, height and width. Following the concept of the five basic parameters of an XRD peak, theprogram Decoform proposed in this study provides more information in mineralogical analyses byfitting actual XRD profiles. In combination with the HW-IR plot, Decoform can he systematically andaccurately used in the comprehensive analyses of crystallinity, domain size, lattice strain andquantitative phase. It is also of value for the geological investigations of diagenesis,metamorphism, basin maturity, structural stress field and so on.

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.

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

Clay minerals in Arctic Kongsfjorden surface sediments and their implications on provenance and paleoenvironmental change

Kongsfjorden is a typical fjord on the edge of the ice cap of the Arctic Svalbard-Barents Sea. Its inner bay is connected with a modern glacier front along the direction of the fjord axis with a significant gradient change in the parameters of hydrology, sedimentation, and biology. In summer, ice and snow melt-water and floating ice collapse continuously and thus transport the weathering products on the surrounding land into the sea. Thus Kongsfjorden is regards as a natural laboratory for the study of unique sedimentation in polar fjords under modern glacial-sea water conditions. In this study, fifty-two surface sediments were collected in Kongsfjorden for clay mineral analysis to study the sediment source and sediment-transport process. Our results indicate that clay minerals in the surface sediments from Kongsfjorden are mainly composed of illite, chlorite, and kaolinite, and no smectite is found. Rocks from different periods exposed extensively in the surrounding areas of Kongsfjorden provide an important material basis for clay minerals in the Kongsfjorden. Kaolinite may be mainly derived from the fluvial deposits, weathered from reddish sandstones and conglomerates during the Carboniferous Period.Illite is mainly derived from Proterozoic low-grade and medium-grade metamorphic phyllite, mica schist, and gneiss. While chlorite is mainly from Proterozoic low-grade metamorphic phyllite and mica schist. In the direction from the fluvio-glacial estuary to the sea of the glacier front of Kongsfjorden, illite increase gradually,and the content of kaolinite declines gradually. However, the change pattern of chlorite is insignificant, which may be related to the provenance. Kongsfjorden detritus is mainly transported by the fluvio-glacial streams and icebergs into the sea and deposited in the inner bay. Coarse sediments are rapidly deposited in the glacier front,estuary, and near-shore areas. Clay fraction begins to deposit significantly by 200–400 m after flowing into the sea,which due to the crystal behavior of clay minerals, hydrodynamic condition and flocculation. Kaolinite and chlorite on the south of the bay near the Blomstrandhalv？ya Island is mainly affected by ice-rafted detritus and thus can reveal the trajectory of transportation by the floating ice while entering the sea.

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-

Effect of Clay Minerals on Transport of Surfactants Dispersed Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Porous Media

Clay minerals can hinder the transport of various contaminants in soil and aquifer, but how clay minerals affect the transport of nanoparticles in aquifers has not been investigated in depth. In this paper, the transport of surfactants dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes（MWCNTs） in welldefined quartz sand and mixtures of quartz sand and clay minerals（kaolinite and montmorillonite） with varying ionic strengths was studied. Sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate（SDBS） and octyl-phenolethoxylate（TX100） MWCNT suspensions can migrate through quartz sand easily, but the presence of less than 2% w/w clay minerals in quartz sand can significantly hinder the transport of MWCNT suspensions, especially at high ion strength（0.6 m M CaCl2）. The inhibition mechanism of clay minerals for surfactant-dispersed MWCNTs in porous media is the interception of MWCNTs. Kaolinite has stronger inhibition effect for MWCNTs transport than montmorillonite because more kaolinite can be retained in the quartz sand. Adsorption of surfactants by clay minerals does not affect the transport of MWCNTs significantly. This finding is important for the environmental assessment of MWCNT transport risks in soils and aquifers.

Clay Mineralogy and its Paleoclimatic Significance of the OligoceneMiocene Sediments in the Gerze Basin, Tibet

This study collected the early Oligocene to middle Miocene sediments from the Gerze Basin of Tibet, and used X-Ray diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） to discuss their clay mineralolgy, clay indices, better understand the clay mineralogy and its paleoclimatic significance. The results show that clay minerals of the Gerze Basin sediments are mainly composed of iilite and chlorite, with minor amounts of smectite and kaolinite, and their relative content varies along the section. Variations of relative contents and clay indices suggest that the Gerze Basin has experienced three-stage evolution of paleoclimate： I ） high ilUte and chlorite contents, with fluctuant smectite and low （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio, indicative of a dominant seasonal arid climate from the early Oligoeene to late Oligocene; Ⅱ） higher illite and chlorite contents and larger （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio but absence of kaolinite, indicating a colder and drier climate from the late Oligocene to early Miocene; Ⅲ） high iilite and chlorite contents with fluctuant （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratios and occasional occurrence of kaolinite, suggesting that the climate became warmer and more humid compared with that of stage Ⅱ in the mid-Miocene. These conclusions were also reinforced by the clay morphology, which suggests that physical weathering dominated in stage Ⅱ, while relatively strong chemical weathering was dominant in stages Ⅰ and Ⅲ Clay minerals of the sediments mainly consist of illite and chlorite, indicating that the source rock played a significant role in clay origin. It is inferred that global cooling and the enhancement of denudation and obstruction of northward moisture due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were responsible for the provenance of iUite and chlorite under weak chemical weathering. Though the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reached a certain elevation by the mid-Miocene, yet the mid-Miocene widespread warming might have largely impacted the Gerze climate.

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.

Study of the Stacking Sequences of an Irregular Mixed-Layer Illite/Smectite (I/S) Clay Mineral—with a Discussion on the Existence of Minerals with Two-Dimentional Lattice and One-Dimentional Quasi-Lattice

There are two aspects in the study of irregular mixed-layer clay minerals: one is the kinds and ratios of their basic structural unit layers and the other is the junction probabilities of the unit layers. Irregular mixed-layer illite/smectite clay minerals (I/S) are widespread in nature. While studying the clay minerals from the Permian-Triassic (P/T) boundary bed, the authors found that I/S clay minerals are developed in all P/T boundary clay layers in areas from the northwest to southeast of China. Systematic mineralogical studies of the I/S clay minerals from Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Zhejiang were made by means of X-ray, infrared spectroscopic, electron microscopic and chemical analyses and a deepened study of the stacking sequences of their structural unit layers was conducted by the MacEwan one—dimentional direct Fourier transform. It was found that the stacking of the illite and smectite crystal layers along the c axis can be derived from Fibonacci sequences. Hence, the authors propose that such I/S clay minerals are possessed of two—dimentional crystal lattice and one—dimentional quasicrystal lattice.

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.