Assignment 3

There are three major clay minerals: kaolinite , ionite and montmorillonite. write short notes on them

*Kaolinite

Kaolinite is a clay mineral, with a soft consistency and earthy texture. It is easily broken and can be
molded or shaped, especially when wet. Kaolinite is a lackluster and uninteresting mineral on its own,
but it occasionally forms interesting pseudomorphs, especially after feldspars. It is also a common
accessory to other minerals, including gem crystals in decomposing feldspar pegmatites.

The term Kaolinite describes the name of a group of closely-related clay minerals, as well as an
individual member mineral of the group. The members of the Kaolinite group all have the same (or
similar) chemical formula, and they are Dickite, Kaolinite, Nacrite, Halloysite, and Odinite. Kaolinite also
has a very similar chemical formula to Serpentine, and is sometimes considered a member of the
Serpentine group.

Kaolinite is the most common clay mineral, and entire clay deposits can be composed of this mineral.
There are many commercial Kaolinite mines where this mineral is mined in large volumes for its various
industrial uses. Kaolinite is named after the Kao-ling, a mountain in Jiangxi Province in China where this
mineral was well-known from early times

*Iolite

Iolite is a gemstone of silicate mineral variety cordierite. It is made up of the chemical elements
magnesium, iron, and aluminum. Iolite is known as cordierite (named after the French geologist Pierre
Cordier who first studied it) in mineralogy. 

Iolite is a fairly durable gemstone, rating 7-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. However, it is not as durable
as sapphires, topaz, and diamonds. When set in jewelry that is high impact like rings and bracelets,
special care should be taken to prevent damage to the stone.

Iolite is a violet-blue to gray, yellow, or colorless gemstone with a vitreous luster. It is a pleochroic gem
which means that it displays different colors when viewed from different angles. Iolites that appear
violet or blue in color from one angle often display yellow, gray, colorless, light, or dark violet pleochroic
colors from another angle. The presence of iron in the mineral structure of Iolite gives it a gorgeous blue
hue. Inclusions in the iolite gemstones lead to attractive cat-eye or aventuresence effects. 

Iolite is known for its naturally beautiful blue and violet hues. Unlike blue topaz, sapphire, and tanzanite
which are often treated in some way, iolite is not usually treated. Some iolite gemstones also appear
gray or colorless and if gemologists were able to enhance them to produce more brilliant hues then they
certainly would do so. The chemistry of iolite however doesn’t allow it to be treated as it cannot tolerate
high temperatures. 

Iolites are often used as blue gem substitutes and rival the allure of tanzanite and blue sapphires at a
fraction of the cost. The most desirable colors of iolite are violet-blue to fine blue.

Iolite is transparent to translucent with relatively few inclusions. Those iolite gemstones that do contain
inclusions are seen as different types of iolite such as cat’s-eye iolite or bloodshot iolite.

Iolite is cut to highlight the transparency of the gem, therefore it is most often faceted. Its highly
pleochroic nature makes it a tricky gem to cut to bring out its most suitable color. Iolites are also cut into
cabochons and sometimes made into carvings. Lower quality iolites are cut into beads.

*Montmorillonite

Montmorillonite is a very soft phyllosilicate group of minerals that form when they precipitate from
water solution as microscopic crystals, known as clay. Montmorillonite is a 2:1 clay, meaning that it has
two tetrahedral sheets of silica sandwiching a central octahedral sheet of alumina. The particles are
plate-shaped with an average diameter around 1 μm and a thickness of 0.96 nm; magnification of about
25,000 times, using an electron microscope, is required to "see" individual clay particles. Members of
this group include, amongst others, saponite, nontronite, beidellite, and hectorite.

Montmorillonite is a subclass of smectite, a 2:1 phyllosilicate mineral characterized as having greater

than 50% octahedral charge; its cation exchange capacity is due to isomorphous substitution of Mg for
Al in the central alumina plane. The substitution of lower valence cations in such instances leaves the
nearby oxygen atoms with a net negative charge that can attract cations. In contrast, beidellite is
smectite with greater than 50% tetrahedral charge originating from isomorphous substitution of Al for Si
in the silica sheet.

The individual crystals of montmorillonite clay are not tightly bound hence water can intervene, causing
the clay to swell, hence montmorillonite is a characteristic component of swelling soil.
The water content of montmorillonite is variable and it increases greatly in volume when it absorbs
water. Chemically, it is hydrated sodium calcium aluminium magnesium silicate
hydroxide (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O. Potassium, iron, and other cations are common
substitutes, and the exact ratio of cations varies with source. It often occurs intermixed
with chlorite, muscovite, illite, cookeite,