Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:40:45.876Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors Influencing the Formation and Characteristics of Halloysites or Kaolinites in Granitic and Tuffaceous Saprolites in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Gordon Jock Churchman ,
Ian Russell Pontifex  and
Stuart Gerrand McClure
Gordon Jock Churchman*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond, South, Australia 5064 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005
Ian Russell Pontifex
Affiliation:
Pontifex and Associates, Kent Town, South Australia
Stuart Gerrand McClure
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond, South, Australia 5064 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The occurrence of halloysite and/or kaolinite in clay-rich, vein-like zones in saprolites in Hong Kong has provided the opportunity to examine the conditions determining the formation of one kaolin mineral or the other and also the nature of their particles. Clay-rich zones within tuffaceous or granitic saprolites from six different hillside sites have been examined in replicate samples by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Kaolin minerals, sometimes together with Mn oxides and Fe oxides/oxyhydroxides, have formed within discontinuities within the altered host rocks. The fabrics of kaolin infills generally indicated several generations of kaolin formation and that shear and deformation have commonly occurred within the infills. The infills were either light or dark in color. Light-colored infills often comprised pure, or nearly pure, halloysite or kaolinite. Dark Mn- and Fe-rich infills all contained kaolinite, while including some halloysite. The very halloysitic, light-colored infills occurred in saprolites in both granite and tuff as long tubular shapes in parallel bunches. The light-colored, very kaolinitic infills occurred in tuff only, in large platy or near-platy shapes within vermiform packets. In dark-colored infills, early kaolin mineral crystallization was limited by impurities from the breakdown of primary minerals leaving dissolved and re-precipitated compounds of Mn and Fe within the infill. Kaolin minerals in infill at all the sites except one are considered to have formed as a result of weathering. The exception comprises white infills in tuff that are composed of extremely small, closely packed particles, suggesting formation by hydrothermal action. Generally, the kaolin minerals have formed by neogenesis out of solution in the discontinuities. Drying, with the formation of Mn and/or Fe oxides/oxyhydroxides, had occurred several times, indicating enhanced drainage. Where drying had occurred, kaolinite had formed. Where indications of drying in infills were absent, halloysite was predominant.

Keywords

Fe Oxides/OxyhydroxidesInfillsMn OxidesRock DeformationShearingTodorokiteWeathering
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 220 - 237
Copyright
Copyright © Clays and Clay Minerals 2010

References

Bailey, S.W., 1990 Halloysite — a critical assessment Science Géologiques 86 89–98.Google Scholar
Bates, T.F., Gard, J.A., 1971 Kaolin minerals The Electron Optical Investigation of Clays 109–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bates, T.E. Hildebrand, F.A. and Swineford, A., 1950 Morphology and structure of endellite and halloysite American Mineralogist 6 237–248.Google Scholar
Bordallo, H.N. Aldridge, L.P. Churchman, G.J. Gates, W.P. Telling, M.T.F. Kiefer, K. Fouquet, P. Seydel, T. and Kimber, S.A.J., 2008 Quasi-elastic neutron scattering studies on clay interlayer-space highlighting the effect of the cation in confined water dynamics Journal of Physical Chemistry C 112 13982–13991 10.1021/jp803274j.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calvert, C.S. Buol, S.W. and Weed, S.B., 1980 Mineralogical transformations of a vertical rock-saprolite-soil sequence in the North Carolina Piedmont Soil Science Society of America Journal 44 1096–1112 10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050044x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, S.D.G. Koor, N.P. Franks, C.A.M. Shum, W.L., Li, K.S. Kay, J.N. Ho, K.K.S., 1998 Geological assessment of slopes in areas close to major landslides on Hong Kong Island Proceedings of the annual seminar on slope engineering in Hong Kong Rotterdam Balkema 121–128.Google Scholar
Carter, J.R. Hatcher, M.T. and Di Carlo, L., 1987 Quantitative analysis of quartz and cristobalite in bentonite clay based products by X-ray diffraction Analytical Chemistry 59 513–519 10.1021/ac00130a030.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J., 1990 Relevance of different intercalation tests for distinguishing halloysite from kaolinite in soils Clays and Clay Minerals 38 5 91–599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J. and Sumner, M.E., 2000 The alteration and formation of soil minerals by weathering Handbook of Soil Science Florida, USA CRC Press, Boca Raton F3–F76.Google Scholar
Churchman, G.J. and Carr, R.M., 1975 The definition and nomenclature of halloysites Clays and Clay Minerals 23 382–388 10.1346/CCMN.1975.0230510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J. and Gilkes, R.J., 1989 Recognition of intermediates in the possible transformation of halloysite to kaolinite Clay Minerals 24 579–590 10.1180/claymin.1989.024.4.02.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J. and Theng, B.K.G., 1984 Interactions of halloysites with amides: Mineralogical factors affecting complex formation Clay Minerals 19 161–175 10.1180/claymin.1984.019.2.04.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J. Whitton, J.S. Claridge, G.G.C. and Theng, B.K.G., 1984 Intercalation method using formamide for differentiating halloysite from kaolinite Clays and Clay Minerals 32 241–248 10.1346/CCMN.1984.0320401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eswaran, H. and Wong Chaw, B., 1978 A study of a deep weathering profile on granite in Peninsular Malaysia. Parts I, II and III Soil Science Society of America Journal 42 144–158 10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200010032x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irfan, T.Y., 1996 Mineralogy, fabric properties and classification of weathered granites in Hong Kong Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology 29 5–35 10.1144/GSL.QJEGH.1996.029.P1.02.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irfan, T.Y., 1998 Structurally controlled landsides in saprolitic soils in Hong Kong Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 16 215–238 10.1023/A:1008805827178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, M.L., 1956 Soil Chemical Analysis — Advanced Course .Google Scholar
Jeong, G.Y., 2000 The dependence of localized crystallization of halloysite and kaolinite on primary minerals in the weathering profile of a granite Clays and Clay Minerals 48 196–203 10.1346/CCMN.2000.0480205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jonas, E.C., 1964 Petrology of the Dry Branch, Georgia kaolin deposits Clays and Clay Minerals 12 199–205 10.1346/CCMN.1963.0120121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joussein, E. Petit, S. Churchman, J. Theng, B. Righi, D. and Delvaux, B., 2005 Halloysite clay minerals — a review Clay Minerals 40 383–426 10.1180/0009855054040180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keller, W.D., 1976 Scan electron micrographs of kaolins collected from diverse environments of origin — 2 Clays and Clay Minerals 24 201–204.Google Scholar
Keller, W.D., 1977 Scan electron micrographs of kaolins collected from diverse environments of origin — 4 Clays and Clay Minerals 25 311–345 10.1346/CCMN.1977.0250501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keller, W.D. and Hanson, R.F., 1975 Dissimilar fabrics by scan electron microscopy of sedimentary versus hydrothermal kaolins in Mexico Clays and Clay Minerals 23 201–204 10.1346/CCMN.1975.0230306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk, P.A. Campbell, S.D.G. Fletcher, C.J.N. and Merriman, R.J., 1997 The significance of primary volcanic fabrics and clay distribution in landslides in Hong Kong Journal of the Geological Society, London 154 1009–1019 10.1144/gsjgs.154.6.1009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, L.R., 1964 The in situ formation and development of some kaolinite microcrystals Clay Minerals Bulletin 5 338–352 10.1180/claymin.1964.005.31.02.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newman, R.H. Childs, C.W. and Churchman, G.J., 1994 Aluminium coordination and structural disorder in halloysite and kaolinite by Al NMR spectroscopy Clay Minerals 29 305–312 10.1180/claymin.1994.029.3.01.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noro, H., 1986 Hexagonal platy halloysite in an altered tuff bed, Komaki City, Aichi prefecture, Central Japan Clay Minerals 21 401–415 10.1180/claymin.1986.021.3.11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norrish, K., Churchman, G.J. Fitzpatrick, R.W. Eggleton, R.A., 1995 An unusual fibrous halloysite Clays Controlling the Environment. Proceedings of the 10th International Clay Conference Melbourne, Australia CSIRO Publishing 275–284.Google Scholar
Romero, R. Robert, M. Elsass, F. and Garcia, C., 1992 Evidence by transmission electron microscopy of weathering microsystems in soils developed from crystalline rocks Clay Minerals 27 21–33 10.1180/claymin.1992.027.1.03.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salins, I. and Ringroase-Vose, A.J., 1994 Impregnating techniques for soils and clay materials — the problems and overcoming them .Google Scholar
Sand, L.B., 1956 On the genesis of residual kaolins American Mineralogist 41 28–40.Google Scholar
Senkayi, A.L. Dixon, J.B. Hossner, L.R. Abdur-Rahman, M. and Fanning, D.S., 1984 Mineralogy and genetic relationships of tonstein, bentonite, and lignitic strata in the Eocene Yegua Formation of East-Central Texas Clays and Clay Minerals 32 259–271 10.1346/CCMN.1984.0320403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, B., 1996 Why does halloysite roll? — a new model Clays and Clay Minerals 44 191–196 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar