Heterogeneity in Montmorillonite

Abstract

Abstract X-ray diffraction patterns and cation-exchange data are presented for centrifuged Wyoming bentonite to demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of montmorillonite. It has been shown that in the bentonite samples studied, the montmorillonite can be separated into at least two fractions. One phase consists of essentially a sodium montmorillonite while the other consists of essentially a calcium-magnesium montmorillonite. It is postulated that these differences occur because of differences in the isomorphous substitutions within the montmorillonite crystal lattice.