Smectites

Heather Jordan
GEOSC 440
03/17/2005

What are smectites?

Single octahedral sheet between 2 tetrahedral sheets

2:1 Phyllosilicates:

Smectite
Vermiculite
Illite

What are smectites?

Layer charge from substitutions:

Octahedral: Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+or Al3+
Tetrahedral: Al3+ or Fe3+ for Si4+

Interlayer expands (up to 30% by volume); swelling clays

Separation depends on interlayer cations present & ionic strength of
solution

What are smectites?

Platelet
Dimensions
200-500 nm in
diameter
0.93 nm thick

General Formula:
A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 nH2O

2:1 1:1
Ratio of
tetrahedral:
octahedral sheets
Weathering

Smectite Group Members

Allettite:
Ca0.2Mg6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 4H2O

Beldellite:
(Na,Ca0.5)0.3Al2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 nH2O

Hectorite:
Na0.3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(F,OH)2

Montmorillonite:
(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2nH2O

Nontronite:
Na0.3Fe2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 nH2O

Saponite:
Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 nH2O

Sauconite:
Na0.3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 4H2O

Stevensite:
(Ca,Na)xMg3Si4O10(OH)2

Swinefordite:
Li(Al,Li,Mg)4(Si,Al)8O20,(OH,F)4 xH2O

Volkonskoite:
Ca0.3(Cr,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 4H2O

Yakhontovite:
(Ca,Na)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2 3H2O

Zincsilite:
Zn3Si4O10(OH)2 4H2O

Thixotrophy
Ability to form stiff gels
at low concentrations
that change viscosity
as shear application
changes
No Shear: Double layers
repelled & + surface
attracted to - edge
house of cards
configuration
Shear: Aligns clay
particles & viscosity

Smectite-Illite (S-I) Transition

Temperature,
Pressure & Time
Abiotic Reaction:

300-450oC
100 MPa
4-5 Months

Biological Reaction:

Metal-Reducing Bacteria
Room Temperature
1 atm
2 weeks

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/303/5659/830.pdf

Structural Comparison: Smectite to Illite

On the mechanical role of

smectite in subduction zones

Peter Vrolijk
Department of Geological Sciences,
University of Michigan

What is a decollement?
Also known as:
- Detachment
fault
- Decollement
Fault
- Sole Fault

(Image modified
from Demians
lecture sketch)

A shallow dipping to subhorizontal fault or shear zone

French: Ungluing
The detachment of the upper cover from its substratum

Objective of the Study

Find out if subduction zone decollements occur
in smectite-rich horizons
Review previous research:
Rock Deformation
Physical Properties of Sediments
Smectite-Illite (S-I) Transition

How these effect seismicity in subduction zones

Why is this research relevant?

The characteristics of
sediments at subduction
zones could tell us where
decollements form
By understanding what
happens at decollements
we learn more about the S-I
transition
Aspects of the S-I transition
process at decollements
tells us something about
seismicity

Previous Research: Subduction Zones

Sediment-Rich:

(Image modified from Demians lecture sketch)

Long decollements
Smectite-rich sediments

Decollements:
Formation is associated with prism structure
Fluid pressure friction tapering
ploughing up of prism stress & zones of porosity

Previous Research: Subduction Zones

Pelagic Sediments: subducted (Image modified from Demians lecture sketch)

Terrigenous Deposits: accrete at prism base
Changes in mechanical properties result in peeling of terrigenous from
pelagic
Decollement is just beneath area of partition at base of smectite-rich
zone

Methods: Data Collection

(Image taken from

Demians Lecture
Presentation)

Sediments from an active decollement have only been

collected once
Seismic reflection data mineralogical composition of
sediments
Decollement geometry from drill cores

Results
Not enough data
Smectites & decollement
formation
More drilling needed

2 Regions with the

most data:
Decollements occur in
smectite-rich zones

(Image taken from Demians Lecture

Presentation)

Implications: For Decollement Generation

Mineralogical Reasons
why smectite is weakest
sediment in subduction
zones
Recall smectite structure
Water = weakness (H-bonds)
Relative Deformation
Stresses
Water tightly adsorbed to
smectite
Remains during
deformation ( porosity)

What dictates smectite distribution in ocean sediments?

Transformation from
volcanic ash
Abundant ash
Sufficient time &
pressure
Between pelagic &
hemipelagic
sediments (due to
dilution & age)

Detrital clay influx

Sediment Minerology Evolution: S-I Transition

Metamorphic transitions
on subducting plate
80% complete 100-110oC
Rate of subduction; S-I
transition rate
Subduction Observations:
Japan Trench (fast)
Barbados (slow)

Implications: For Subduction Zones

S-I: Sediment Strengthening

How it relates to seismicity

Does this lead to development of the seismic front?

During S-I, smectite (as it is converted to illite)

Decollement strengthened
Friction
Deformation & strain on overriding plate
Seismicity results

Conclusions
Decollements form in smectite-rich sediments
More drilling needed at prisms
Columb Wedge Theory: coefficient of basal
sliding friction may need modification
Seismicity related to strengthening (due to S-I)

Comments & Criticisms: Where to Begin?

Overgeneralization from too small a
sample size
Too little is known about the
lithology to draw conclusions about
the relationship of smectite to
decollement formation
Keeping physical models in mind
(structure, hydration, the effect of
shear, S-I, etc.), Is the model
logical?
Shear reduces viscosity (house of
cards to plates)
S-I (squeezes out water; no more Hbonds to break)
Leads to strengthening Seismicity

Would I have published this? NO!!!

??QuESTIONS??

For more thoroughly exhilarating reading on smectites:

Alba, M.D, et al. (2001) Hydrothermal reactivity of Lu-saturated smectites: Part I. A long-range order
study. American Minerologist. 86: 115-123.
Alba, M.D., et al. (2001) Hydrothermal reactivity of Lu-saturated smectites: Part II. A short-range order
study. American Minerologist. 86: 124-131
Blum, A.E., Eberl. D.D. & Rutherford, D.W. Quatitative Determination of Smectite Surface Areas by the
sorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Ninth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference . 7567.pdf
Cervini-Silva, J., et al. (2001) Transformation of Chlorinated Aliphatic Compounds by Ferruginous
Smectite. Environmental Science and Technology. 35: 805-809.
Ghosh, A & McSween Jr., H.Y. Normative Minerology and Possible Origin of Mars Pathfinder Soils.
Online.
Guangyao, H.L., et al. (2003) Sorption and Desorption of Pesticides by Clay Minerals and Humic AcidClay Complexes. Soil Science Society Americal Journal. 67: 122-131.
Johnston, C.T. et al. Spectroscopic Study of NitroaromaticSmectite Sorption Mechanisms.
Environmental Science & Technology. American Chemical Society.
Kasama, T., et al. (2001) Experimental mixtures of smectite and rectorite: Re-investigation of
fundamental particles and interparticle diffraction. American Minerologist. 86: 105-114.
Parry, W.T., Jasumback, M. & Wilson, P.M. (2002) Clay Minerology of Phyllic and Intermediate Agrillic
Alteration at Bingham, Utah. Economic Geology. 97: 221-239.
Stixrude, L & Peacor, D.R. (2002) First-principles study of illite-smectite and implications for claymineral systems. Nature. 420: 165-168.
Trentstesaux, A., et al. (2003) Data Report: Pleistocene Paleoclimatic Cyclivity of Southern China: Clay
Mineral Evidence Recorded in the South China Sea (ODP Site 1146). Proceedings of the Ocean
Drilling Program, Scientific Results. 184: 1-10.
Vrolijk, P. & van der Pluijm, B.A. (1999) Clay Gouge. Journal of Structural Geology. 21: 1039-1048.

For more thoroughly exhilarating reading on smectites:

http://www.smm.org/general_info/bhop/Smectiteandbentoniteclay.html
http://www.mindat.org/min-11119.html
http://www.renneckerltd.com/rltd_aboutsmectite.htm
http://www.rtvanderbilt.com/veegum.pdf
http://www.claytone.net/clay/cchem.html
http://www7430.nrlssc.navy.mil/biogeochemistry/smectiteillite.htm
http://chemical.kowa.com/coop_chemical.html
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~rsutton/cmsabstract.html
http://www.rtvanderbilt.com/veegumdd_a.htm
http://www.oilvel.com/Dutta_quotes2.html
http://www.workpage.com/e/58/177e.htm
http://www.renneckerltd.com/Products/rltd_magnabrite01.htm
http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/184_SR/VOLUME/CHAPTERS/210.PDF
http://cips.berkeley.edu/research/cervini-silva_transformation.pdf
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~rsutton/modelclay.html
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~rsutton/clays.html
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=smectite+clay
http://www.permont.com/11/1112/tsld002.htm
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/%7Ekite/Geol321Lect04Weathering2002/
http://members.segweb.org/PDF97-2/221_Prry.pdf
http://www.quanterra.org/Patissier.htm
http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/178_SR/chap_08/chap_08.htm
http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=343765
http://www.claytone.net/pain/pain.html
http://www.eytonsearth.org/claychemistry.html
http://www.seismo.berkeley.edu/~jill/silweath.html
http://www.gly.uga.edu/schroeder/geol3010/smectite.gif
http://www.petrotech-assoc.com/prod01.htm
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/DisplayImage.cfm?ID=183
http://energy.usgs.gov/factsheets/Petroleum/SEM.html
http://homepages.uc.edu:8000/~maynarjb/603/GeochemWater/ClayImages.htm
http://www.kimb.or.kr/im_data/picture/mineral/img/montmorillonite.jpg