The 5th ISRM Young Scholars' Symposium on Rock Mechanics and ISRM 2019 Specialized Conference

International Symposium on Rock Engineering for Innovative Future December 1-4, 2019, Okinawa, Japan
©2019 Japanese Society for Rock Mechanics, ISBN 978-4-907430-04-7 N. Shimizu, K. Kishida, and H. Yasuhara (Eds)

Effect of Clay Mineral type on the Physical and Mechanical

Properties of Rock Materials
Masanori Kohnoa* and Tsuyoshi Nishimurab
a
Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
* kohnom@tottori-u.ac.jp (corresponding author’s E-mail)

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Abstract

It is generally known that physical and mechanical properties of rock materials significantly change
by clay mineral content. Therefore, it is considered that clay mineral content or type is one of the factors
that greatly affect the rock strength. In order to clarify that effect of only clay mineral content, a series
of experiments has been carried out on artificial rock by the use of gypsum specimen mixed with clay
minerals. In addition, dry and wet cycle test is conducted to effect of swelling clay mineral on degree
of strength reduction. The clay mineral content or type is one of the factors that affect the values of P-
wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength and degree of strength reduction. Comparative tests
revealed that the difference in clay mineral content or type in the clay mineral-bearing rock material
specimens influences the physical and mechanical properties of rock materials. Furthermore, the results
suggested that uniaxial compressive strength of clay mineral-bearing rock materials under dry condition
can be evaluated on the basis of interlayer bonding force (i.e. chemical bonds type) in the clay minerals.
Our results can be useful and contribution as basis data when evaluating physical and mechanical
properties of clay mineral-bearing rock materials.

Keywords: Clay Mineral, UCS, Interlayer Bonding Force, Dry and Wet Cycle Test

1. Introduction
Hydrothermal alteration, the formation of crushing and weathering zones by volcanic-hydrothermal
systems, and weathering over geologic time and historical periods have occurred widely throughout the
Pacific Rim region. As a result of these processes, a wide variety of clay minerals occur on the surface
and in the crust of the Earth. Hence, the physical and mechanical properties of clay minerals differ, as
evidenced by their structures. Therefore, it is very important to notice clay minerals, for instance,
resource development, stability evaluation of underground utilization, landslide hazard assessment.
Many researchers have studied the effect of clay mineral on physical and mechanical properties of
rock materials. For instance, Kahraman et al. (2016) and Ishida and Tsutsumi (1994) reported that the
strength reduction including smectite is closely related to the smectite content. Kohno and Maeda
(2010) showed that comparative tests revealed that the smectite content influences the point load index
and uniaxial compressive strength of approximately 7% in weight and very small amounts of smectite-
bearing fine tuff. Furthermore, Kohno and Maeda (2012) showed that clay mineral content or type is
one of the factors that greatly affect the rock strength. As above, the clay minerals have some kind of
effect on mechanical properties of rock. However, there are following unsolved points: quantitative
relationship between clay mineral content and mechanical property of rock, the presence or absence of
swelling property of clay mineral, and influence of water content. Furthermore, reports of quantitative
evaluation influence of clay minerals content and type, on the physical and mechanical properties of
rock have apparently not been published to date.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of difference in clay mineral content and type on the
physical and mechanical properties, using artificial rock. Our data can be useful and contribution as
basis data when evaluating physical and mechanical properties of clay mineral-bearing rock materials.

2. Methodology
Physical and mechanical properties tests with clay mineral-bearing artificial rock are carried out to
clarify effect of difference in clay mineral type on uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). Cylindrical
specimens (Fig. 1) are obtained by mixing bassanite powder and distilled water with clay mineral and
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silica powders. The bassanite is a sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate hydrate. The bassanite
is often used for experimental study using artificial rock. The specimen is prepared by mixing a
bassanite powder (CaSO4･0.5H2O) and a clay mineral powder under air-dried in a specified mass ratio,
subsequently, distilled water (H2O) is added to the powder. These ratio (powders : water) are 2 : 1. The
slurry is solidified to obtain the gypsum (CaSO4 ･ 2H2O) specimen. Mix proportion of gypsum
specimens is shown in Table 1.

30 mm Table 1 Mix proportion of gypsum specimens.

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Clay mineral content Bassanite Quartz Clay mineral
60 mm
C c = 00% a 70% a 30% a 00%
C c = 10% a 70% a 20% a 10%
C c = 20% a 70% a 10% a 20%
Fig. 1. Gypsum specimen. C c = 30% a 70% a 00% a 30%

Schematic crystal structure of layer silicate is shown in Fig. 2. The clay minerals used in this study
are kaolinite (particle density s = 2.577 g/cm3), serpentine (s = 2.518 g/cm3), 1.0 nm halloysite (s =
2.736 g/cm3), talc (s = 2.786 g/cm3), mica (s = 2.904 g/cm3), chlorite (s = 2.841 g/cm3), and smectite
(s = 2.549 g/cm3) powders. The clay mineral powders of particle size passing through a sieve with
75m mesh is used. Clay minerals are identified from the X-ray powder diffraction patterns.

1 : 1 layer 2 : 1 layer

Tetrahedral sheet Octahedral sheet －, 0

－
H2O + K+, N+, + Exchangeable cations
Ca2+
∓
∓
0, －
OH plane 0, ＋, － Sheet charge 0, ＋, －
< > Layer charge －, 0
－
0 －

0 0, ＋, －
0 ∓ ∓ ∓

0 －
0, ＋ 0 ＋
+
∓ ∓ ∓

0, － +
∓ ∓ ∓ 1.5 ~
1.4
0.29 nm 0 － － －, 0
1.0 0.93 1.0

0.22 0, ＋ 0.7 0 0 0, ＋, － 0, ＋, － 0, －

0.22 0, － 0 0 － － －, 0

Kaolin 1.0 nm Pyrophyllite Mica Chlorite Smectite

minerals halloysite <0> <0.6~1> <0.8~1.2> <0.2~0.6>
<0> <0> Talc Vermiculite
Serpentine <0> <0.6~0.9>
<0>

Fig. 2. Schematic crystal structure of layer silicate (based on Shirozu, 2012).

The physical test items in this study are density, water content, effective porosity, and P-wave
velocity. The drying method in physical tests is dried in an electric oven at a temperature 70±3°C, in
order not to dehydrate the crystal water of gypsum. The gypsum specimens used for the physical and
uniaxial compressive (UC) tests in this study have a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 60 mm. The
UC test in this study is performed using a laboratory testing machine with specimens under dry or
saturated condition. The load is applied continuously at a constant compressive strain rate of 0.1%/min.
Over 200 gypsum specimens mixed with clay mineral are prepared for the test.
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3. Results and discussion
3.1 Physical properties of gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral
Physical properties of gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral are shown in Fig. 3. Effective
porosity is calculated as the ratio between porosity volume excluding isolated pores and specimen’s
volume using caliper square. P-wave velocity is determined by pulse test. The physical properties of
gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%) are dry density = 1.20 g/cm3, saturated density = 1.65 g/cm3, effective
porosity = 45.0%, water absorption = 37.5%, P-wave velocity under dry condition = 2.48 km/s, and P-
wave velocity under saturated condition = 2.25 km/s. These values of the physical properties are
considered being included in the category of soft rocks such as mudstone and tuff. The density, effective

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porosity, and water absorption have not clear trend by difference in clay mineral type and its content.
P-wave velocities show the decrease with the increasing clay mineral content.

1.3 55 3.0

P-wave velocity [km/s]

Effective porosity [%]
A B D
Density [g/cm3]

1.2 50
2.5
1.1 45

Dry condition 2.0 Dry condition

1.3 40
0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30
1.8 45 2.5

P-wave velocity [km/s]

Water absorption [%]

A C D
Density [g/cm3]

1.7 40
2.0
1.6 35

Saturated condition Saturated condition

1.5 30 1.5
0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30
Clay mineral content Cc [%] Clay mineral content Cc [%] Clay mineral content Cc [%]
Gypsum specimen (Cc =0%)
Mixed samples ( Kaolinite, Serpentine, 1.0 nm halloysite, Talc, Mica, Chlorite, Smectite.)

Fig. 3. Physical properties of gypsum specimen mixed with clay or non-clay mineral (A: density, B:
effective porosity, C: water absorption, D: P-wave velocity).

3.2 Relationship between clay mineral type and uniaxial compressive strength
One example of stress-strain curve on the UC test under dry and saturated condition is shown in Fig.
4A. The results shown in Fig. 4A are obtained under a constant rate of displacement in axial direction.
The stress-strain curves show the monotonous increase in the compressive stress and the sudden decease
beyond the peak value of the stress. This can be recognized that the specimen reached to failure in brittle
manner.

25 6
Tangent modulus of elasticity [GPa]

A B
Compressive stress [MPa]

5
20
Cc =0%
Dry condition 4
15

Cc =30%, Smectite 3
10
2
Saturated condition
5
1
Cc =0% Cc =30%, Smectite

0 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 0 10 20 30
Axial strain [%] Clay mineral content Cc [%]
Fig. 4. One example of stress-strain curve on the UC test of gypsum specimen mixed with smectite 30%
(A) and tangent modulus of elasticity (B). Solid and dashed lines in Fig. B are dry and saturated
conditions, respectively. Symbols in Fig. B are the same as in the legend in Fig. 3.
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 The relationship between clay mineral content and tangent modulus of elasticity Et50 on the UC test
under dry and saturated conditions is shown in Fig. 4B. Tangent modulus of elasticity Et50 on the UC
test under dry condition of chlorite-bearing specimen (Cc = 10%) has the largest Et50 (= 4.4 GPa) of all
the specimens. In contrast, Et50 of talc-bearing specimen (Cc = 30%) has the smallest value (2.0GPa).
With the increasing clay mineral content, the Et50 under dry and saturated conditions show the trend of
reduction. Therefore, clay mineral content or type is one of the factors that affect the tangent modulus
of elasticity of rock materials
The relationship between clay mineral content and UCS is shown in Fig. 5A. Each of data point in
the Fig.5A is the average value of 4 or 5 specimens. The coefficient of variation for most UCS

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specimens is less than 15%. UCS of gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%) under dry and saturated conditions
are 18.2 MPa and 7.7 MPa, respectively. UCS of gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral under dry
and saturated conditions are smaller than UCS of gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%). The UCS differ with
the clay mineral content and type. However, UCS of chlorite-, smectite-, and mica-bearing specimen
(Cc = 10%) under dry condition is larger than UCS of gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%), and this is similar
to results by Gomi and Okamoto (1996). This matter is yet to be solved. The UCS shows the decrease
with the increasing clay mineral content, and these degrees of UCS reduction differ on the clay mineral
type. Comparative tests revealed that the difference in clay mineral content or type in the clay mineral-
bearing rock material specimens influences the physical and mechanical properties of rock materials.
In Cc=10% case under dry condition, UCSs of chlorite-, smectite-, and mica-bearing specimens,
kaolinite-, serpentine-, and 1.0 nm halloysite-bearing specimens, and talc-bearing specimens are about
20 MPa (Group I), about 15 MPa (Group II), and about 12 MPa (Group III), respectively. For instance,
these value of UCS can be divided into three groups. These UCS are large in the order of Group I (ionic
bond: Fig. 2) > Group II (hydrogen bond: Fig. 2) > Group III (van der Waals force: Fig. 2). About this
is reflected as such in the magnitude correlation (ionic bond > hydrogen bond > van der Waals force)
of interlayer bonding force. Therefore, the results suggested that UCS of clay mineral-bearing rock
materials under dry condition can be evaluated on the basis of interlayer bonding force (i.e. chemical
bonds type) in the clay minerals. Conversely, the UCS under wet condition is smaller than the UCS
under air-dried condition, and degrees of UCS reduction under wet condition and air-dried condition
are not similar.

30 -40
Uniaxial compressive strength [MPa]

25
A -50
B
Strength change ratio [%]

20 -60

15 -70

10 -80

5 -90

0 -100
0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30
Clay mineral content Cc [%] Clay mineral content Cc [%]

Fig. 5. Relationships between clay mineral content and UCS (A), and strength change ratio (B) of
gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral. Solid and dashed lines in Fig. A are dry and
saturated conditions, respectively. Symbols are the same as in the legend in Fig. 3.

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 The strength change ratio SCR can be represented by the following equation, in order to evaluate
the influence of water immersion on the strength of gypsum specimen.

Ssat − Sdry
SCR = (100%) (1)
Sdry

where subscript “dry” and “sat” are UCS under dry and saturated conditions, respectively. This formula
indicated difference in strength value between dry and saturated conditions by percentage, when
strength value in the dry condition is defined as 100%. The relationship between SCR and gypsum

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specimen mixed with clay mineral is shown in Fig. 5B. The SCR of gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%) is
−57.5%. The SCR of gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral shows the increase in negative direction
with the increasing clay mineral content.
Furthermore, the degree of change in SCR with the clay mineral content increase differed by clay
mineral type and its content.

3.3 Result of dry and wet cycle test

Dry and wet cycle test using a gypsum specimen mixed with mica or smectite (Cc = 30%) is
conducted to effect of swelling clay mineral on degree of strength reduction. One cycle of dry and wet
cycle test in this study is follows: (1) All specimens of the test are immersed for 24 hours using a water-
filled decompression container, (2) the specimens are immersed with water for 48 hours, (3) the
specimens are air-dried for 20 hours, and (4) the specimens are dried in an electric oven at a temperature
70±3°C for 72 hours.
The results of dry and wet cycle test are shown in Fig. 6. Each of data point in the Fig.6 is the
average value of 6 specimens. The UCS under dry condition shows the decrease with the increasing
cycle. Furthermore, the degree of reduction in UCS with the clay mineral type (mica or smectite)
differed by cycle. The degrees of UCS reduction of gypsum specimen (Cc = 0%) and mica-bearing
specimen (Cc = 30%) are similar. On the other hand, the UCS of smectite-bearing specimen (6 cycles)
is approximately one-third as large as the UCS (0 cycle). The P-wave velocities of gypsum specimen
(Cc = 0%) and mica-bearing specimen (Cc = 30%) in dry and wet cycle test has not significantly changed
with the increasing cycle. In contrast, the P-wave velocity of smectite-bearing specimen shows the
decrease with the increasing cycle. The layers of smectite (swelling clay mineral) repeated expansion
and shrinkage by dry and wet cycle. The swelling clay mineral resulted in a degradation of specimen,
which in turn led to strength reduction. The relationship between the clay mineral structures (i.e. the
interlayer bonding force) and strength reduction will be clarified in future studies. These experimental
results suggest that expansion and shrinkage in swelling clay minerals due to dry and wet leads to
reduction of UCS.

30 3.0
Uniaxial compressive strength [MPa]

25
A 2.6
B Cc = 0%
P-wave velocity [km/s]

20 2.2
Cc = 0%
15 1.8

10 1.4

5 1.0

0 0.6
0 2 4 6 0 2 4 6
Cycle [times] Cycle [times]

Fig. 6. Relationships between cycle of dry and wet cycle test and UCS (A), and P-wave velocity (B) of
gypsum specimen mixed with clay mineral (Cc = 30%). Symbols are the same as in the legend
in Fig. 3.

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4. Conclusion
In order to clarify that effect of only clay mineral content, a series of experiments has been carried
out on artificial rock by the use of gypsum specimen mixed with clay minerals. In addition, dry and wet
cycle test is conducted to effect of swelling clay mineral on degree of strength reduction. The clay
mineral content or type is one of the factors that affect the values of P-wave velocity, uniaxial
compressive strength and degree of strength reduction. Comparative tests revealed that the difference
in clay mineral content or type in the clay mineral-bearing rock material specimens influences the
physical and mechanical properties of rock materials. The results suggested that uniaxial compressive
strength of clay mineral-bearing rock materials under dry condition can be evaluated on the basis of

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interlayer bonding force (i.e. chemical bonds type) in the clay minerals. Furthermore, the experimental
results suggest that expansion and shrinkage in swelling clay minerals due to dry and wet leads to
reduction of UCS. Our results can be useful and contribution as basis data when evaluating physical
and mechanical properties of clay mineral-bearing rock materials. The accumulation of data on a lot of
clay mineral-bearing specimen examples will be required in the future, and the relationship between the
clay mineral structures (i.e. the interlayer bonding force) and strength reduction will be clarified in
future studies.

Acknowledgements
This work was partly supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research “KAKENHI” (Grant
Number 19K15489) of Japanese Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS). The support is gratefully
acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Mr. Takehara Y. from Tottori University for these
supports with the experiments.

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