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.

Diversified roles of mineral transformation in controlling hydrocarbon generation process,mechanism,and pattern

Organic matter(OM)is intimately associated with minerals in clay-rich mudstones,leading to widespread organic-mineral interaction during hydrocarbon generation in argillaceous source rocks.What we are concerned is the effects of the different mineral properties on hydrocarbon generation process and mechanism during mineral transformation.In this way,pyrolysis experiments with smectite-octadecanoic acid complexes(Sm-OA and Ex-Sm-OA)were conducted to analyze correlation of mineralogy and pyrolysis behaviors.Based on organicmineral interaction,hydrocarbon generation process was divided into three phases.At 200–300℃,collapse of smectite led to desorption of OM,resulting in high yield of resin and slight increase in saturates.Subsequently,enhanced smectite illitization at 350–450℃was accompanied with large amounts of saturates and a mere gaseous hydrocarbon.Featured by neoformed plagioclase,ankerite,and illite,500C saw plenty of asphaltene and methane-rich gaseous hydrocarbons,revealing cracking reactions of OM.Noteworthy is that saturated and gaseous hydrocarbons in Ex-Sm-OA were considerably more than that in Sm-OA during second and third phases.Quantitative calculation of hydrogen revealed organic hydrogen provided by cross-linking of OM could not balance hydrogen consumed by cracking reactions,but supply of inorganic hydrogen ensured cracking could readily occur and consequently greatly promoted hydrocarbon generation.Further investigating characteristics of mineralogy and pyrolytic products,as well as effects of solid acidity on hydrocarbon generation,we concluded desorption of OM and decarboxylation promoted by Lewis acid were dominated at 200–300C,resulting in lowdegree hydrocarbon generation.While high yield of saturated and gaseous hydrocarbons in second and third phases,together with occurrence of ankerite,indicated predominance of decarboxylation and hydrogenation promoted by Lewis and Brønsted acid,respectively.Variations in organic-mineral interactions indicated(1)the controls of mineral transformation on hydrocarbon generation process and mechanism include desorption,decarboxylation,and hydrogenation reactions;(2)clay minerals acted as reactants evolving together with OM rather than catalysts.These findings are profoundly significant for understanding the hydrocarbon generation mechanisms,organic-inorganic interactions,and carbon cycle.

Evolution of kaolinite subgroup minerals and mixed-layer illite/smectite in the Paleogene Damintun Depression in Liaohe Basin of China and its implication for paleotemperature

The oil-rich Damintun Depression is located in the Liaohe Basin, Northeast China, and was formed during the Paleogene. The major oil-producing strata in the depression are mudstone and shale. To explore the burial diagenetic history of the basin and the formation thresholds of hydrocarbons, the characters of the kaolinite subgroup minerals and mixed-layer illite/smectite in the mudstone and the shale are studied by using X-ray diffraction, electron probe, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier infrared spectrum. The kaolinite subgroup consists of kaolinite and halloysite. The kaolinite is flake-like or vermiform-like. The halloysite is in long tubular shape and its length is related to its iron content. A longer tube has lower iron content. The crystallinity of kaolinite is 0.40 ~20, and its degree of order increases from 0.03 to 1.17 with the burial depth. Kaolinite is in disorder when the buried depth is less than or equal to 2479 m, and it is partially ordered when the buried depth is greater than 2479 m. Kaolinite is supposed to turn into dickite when the depth is greater than 2550 m, but low penetrability and low poros- ity of the shale and mudstone prevent such a change. The mixed-layer illite/smectite changes from disorder to order continually as the buried depth increases. Its disorder （RoI/S）, as defined by illite layer content （I%）, is smaller than 50% at depths less than 2550.25 m. Based on Hoffman ＆ Hower＇s model, the paleo-geothermal gradients of 3.37-3.76℃/100 m （3.57℃/100 m on average） can be derived in the Paleocene Damintun Depression, which is significantly higher than the present geothermal gradient （2.9℃00 m）. The threshold depth of the oil formation in the depression is about 2550 m.

From illite/smectite clay to mesoporous silicate adsorbent for efficient removal of chlortetracycline from water

A series of mesoporous silicate adsorbents with superior adsorption performance for hazardous chlortetracycline（CTC） were sucessfully prepared via a facile one-pot hydrothermal reaction using low-cost illite/smectite（IS） clay,sodium silicate and magnesium sulfate as the starting materials.In this process,IS clay was ＂teared up＂ and then ＂rebuilt＂ as new porous silicate adsorbent with high specific surface area of 363.52 m^2/g（about 8.7 folds higher than that of IS clay） and very negative Zeta potential（- 34.5 mV）.The inert Si- O- Si（Mg,Al） bonds in crystal framework of IS were broken to form Si（Al）- O^- groups with good adsorption activity,which greatly increased the adsorption sites served for holding much CTC molecules.Systematic evaluation on adsorption properties reveals the optimal silicate adsorbent can adsorb 408.81 mg/g of CTC（only 159.7 mg/g for raw IS clay） and remove 99.3%（only 46.5%for raw IS clay） of CTC from 100 mg/L initial solution（pH 3.51;adsorption temperature 30℃;adsorbent dosage,3 g/L）.The adsorption behaviors of CTC onto the adsorbent follows the Langmuir isotherm model,Temkin equation and pseudo second-order kinetic model.The mesopore adsorption,electrostatic attraction and chemical association mainly contribute to the enhanced adsorption properties.As a whole,the high-efficient silicate adsorbent could be candidates to remove CTC from the wastewater with high amounts of CTC.

Occurrence of mixed-layer illite/smectite at temperature of 285℃ in an active hydrothermal system and its significance

THE progressive transformation of smectite into illite via mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) phases occurs during hydrothermal alteration, burial diagenesis and regional metamorphism. The proportion of illite or smectite (also indicated by their expandability) and ordering of I/S, interpreted by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) profiles, have long been used as geothermometers in sedimentary basins. It is found that R=1 ordering mixed-layer I/S still exists