Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T13:08:59.005Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Activation of Non-Swelling Bentonite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

R. L. Bleifuss*
Affiliation:
Mineral Resources Research Centre, University of Minneapolis, Minnesota 554 55, U.S.A.

Abstract

Examination of field samples shows that the alteration of the bentonite beds of Wyoming and Montana near the surface to produce high-quality, highswelling, commercial bentonites is analogous to pedocal soil development. The near surface bentonite has undergone extensive calcification, and in some zones it is so heavily altered as to diminish its swelling properties. These low-swelling bentonites can be activated by conventional soda-ash additions. The naturally high-swelling materials have undergone only partial calcification and do not require soda-ash modification. The relatively unaltered 'grey' or 'blue' bentonites have undergone little or no calcification. The latter have the highest Na to Ca ratios, are non-swelling, and do not respond markedly to soda-ash additions. Such low-swelling materials will respond to calcium-activation with markedly improved physical quality parameters of flocculation as measured by Marsh Funnel and Fann viscosimeter. The study indicates that vast reserves of low-swelling bentonites in Montana-Wyoming may be susceptible to controlled calcium activation and expanded commercial utilization.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Grim, R.W. (1962) Applied Clay Mineralogy. McGraw Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Slaughter, M. & Early, J.W. (1965) Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 83, pp. 95.Google Scholar
Williams, F.J., Elsley, B.C. & Weintritt, D.J. (1954) The variations of Wyoming Bentonite as a function of the overburden. In Clays and Clay Minerals (A. Swineford and N, V. Plummer, editors). Natl. Research Council Pubi. 327, 141.Google Scholar
Williams, F.J., Neznayko, M. & Weintritt, D.J. (1953) J. phys. Chem. 57, 6.Google Scholar