Allevardite, composition

Figure 9. Phases found between the compositions muscovite (Mu)— pyrophyllite (Py) at 2Kb pressure (after Velde, 1969). M = mica (tending to an illite-like phase) ML = random mixed layered phase All = allevardite-like phase Mo = fully expandable phase Kaol = kaolinite ...

If we now consider the bulk compositions of the mixed-layered minerals which contain both expandable and non-expandable layers, two series are apparent, one between theoretical beidellite and illite and one between theoretical montmorillonite and illite (Figure 25). The intersection of the lines joining muscovite-montmorillonite and beidellite-celadonite (i.e., expandable mineral to mica), is a point which delimits, roughly, the apparent compositional fields of the two montmorillonite-illite compositional trends for the natural mixed layered minerals (Figure 26). That is, the natural minerals appear to show a compositional distribution due to solid solutions between each one of the two montmorillonite types and the two mica types—muscovite and celadonite. There is no apparent solid solution between the two highly expandable (80% montmorillonite) beidellitic and montmorillonitic end members. The point of intersection of the theoretical substitutional series beidellite = celadonite and muscovite-montmorillonite is located at about 30-40% expandable layers— 70-60% illite. This interlayering is similar to the "mineral" allevardite as defined previously. It appears that as the expandability of the mixed... 

If we look back to the experimental studies on natural expandable minerals at high pressures, it can be recalled that the production of a chlorite-phase occurred when interlayering in the natural dioctahedral mineral had reached about 30% interlayering. It is possible that below this transition only expandable phases are present for most magnesium-iron compositions one is dioctahedral, the other would be trioctahedral. Thus, at temperatures below the transition to an ordered allevardite-type phase, dioctahedral mixed layered minerals will coexist with expandable chlorites or vermiculites as well as kaolinite. The distinction between these two phases is very difficult because both respond in about the same manner when glycollated. There can also be interlayering in both di- and... 

The second facies is marked by the instability of the fully expanding dioctahedral phases and the existence of a kaolinite-illite tie-line (Figure 48b). In this facies the siliceous alkali zeolites (other than analcite) become unstable, the compositional range of the trioctahedral expanding phases is reduced and aluminous 14 8 chlorite-"allevardite"... 

Shimoda and Sudo [1960] have found a 26 A mineral in vein-shaped masses of pyro-phyllite and diaspore-pyrophyllite in Yonajo Mine, Nagano Pref. They consider this to be a mixture of 10 A forms+hydrated forms. The chemical composition is similar to allevardite. 

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