GENETIC INTERPRETATION OF THE POLYMORPHISM OF THE KAOLINITE GROUP IN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Abstract

SUMMARY The paper presents the dynamics of the structural change of kaolinite and its polymorphous (polytype) modifications at different stages of sedimentary rock formation. Sedimentogenesis is characterized by a gradual disordering of structure of triclinic kaolinite, the degree of disorder produced being proportional to the intensity and duration of the influence of the hydrodynamic medium. Epigenesis (deep) is connected with gradual transformation of kaolinite into dickite through the stage of mixed‐layer growths inheriting the structure of twin rotations of disordered kaolinite from the sedimentogenesis stage. In metagenesis filling of fissures with dickite or nacrite takes place. The former is peculiar to the general thermodynamic medium of deep epigenesis/metagen‐esis, whereas nacrite is an indicator of intense stress and seems to be due to transformation of dickite.