Clays and Clay Minerals, Vol. 57, No. 1, 72–81, 2009.
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Authors
Kaufhold, Stephan
Kaufhold, Annette
Jahn, Reinhold
Brito, Salomon
Dohrmann, Reiner
Hoffmann, Rainer
Gliemann, Hartmut
Weidler, Peter
Frechen, Manfred
Issue Date
2009
Type
Article
Language
Keywords
Periodicals , Geology , AFM , Allophane , Ecuador , Nanoparticle , Special Clay
Alternative Title
Stephan Kaufhold; Annette Kaufhold ; Reinhold Jahn; Salomon Brito; Reiner Dohrmann; Rainer Hoffmann; Hartmut Gliemann; Peter Weidler; Manfred Frechen
Abstract
In Ecuador, DINAGE (known today as the Servicio Geolo´gico Nacional) and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources have discovered a huge allophane deposit covering an area of >4000 km2. 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 (14C) 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 N2-BET specific surface area of >300 m2/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.
Description
gsccm57107-kau.pdf - 120MB
Citation
Clays and Clay Minerals, Vol. 57, No. 1, 72–81, 2009.
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