Igneous rocks weathering

Clay minerals are formed when igneous rocks weather. These minerals are the main constituent of fine-grained (<63 rm) particles in mud. In general these minerals are less cation-rich than their igneous precursors. Kaolinite has the simplest clay mineral formula because it is pure aluminosilicate. It is the mineral that held the secret to making porcelain, which was greatly valued by the emperors of China before AD 1000, after they discovered how hard and clear kaolin becomes when heated to 1300-1400 °C. Other, more complicated clay minerals, e.g. iUite and montmorillonite, have various amounts of cations added to their structures. 

Gays are an essential component of soils, to which we owe our survival, and they are also the raw materials for some of mankind s most ancient and essential artefacts pottery, bricks, tiles, etc. Clays are formed by the weathering and decomposition of igneous rocks and occur typically as very fine panicles e.g. kaolinite is formed as hexagonal plates of edge. 1-3 p m by the weathering of alkaline feldspar... 

Valuable mineral deposits which form by residual concentration pertain to iron, manganese, aluminum, nickel, clays, tin and gold. Aluminum comes almost exclusively from residual concentrations of bauxite, which result from the laterihsation of alumina rich igneous rocks like syenites under tropical and subtropical climatic conditions. Laterites also contribute nearly 80% of the world s reserves of nickel at grades better than 1% Ni. They form by residual concentrations as a result of weathering of mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks, which are relatively enriched in nickel. 

The composition of the particles is related to that of the source rocks. Quartz sand [composed of silica (silicon dioxide)], which makes up the most common variety of silica sand, is derived from quartz rocks. Pure quartz is usually almost free of impurities and therefore almost colorless (white). The coloration of some silica sand is due to chemical impurities within the structure of the quartz. The common buff, brown, or gray, for example, is caused by small amounts of metallic oxides iron oxide makes the sand buff or brown, whereas manganese dioxide makes it gray. Other minerals that often also occur as sand are calcite, feldspar and obsidian Calcite (composed of calcium carbonate), is generally derived from weathered limestone or broken shells or coral feldspar is an igneous rock of complex composition, and obsidian is a natural glass derived from the lava erupting from volcanoes see Chapter 2. 

Chromium is a compatible element in the Earth s mantle, and tends be present in much greater concentrations in mafic igneous rocks than in felsic ones (Faure 1991). Ultramafic rocks often contain over 1,000 ppm Cr and can generate environmental problems when they weather (Robertson 1975 Robles and Armienta 2000). Granites may contain less than 20 ppm Cr, whereas shales contain roughly 90 ppm. 

The Hostrock and Backfill Material. Most crystalline igneous rocks, including granite and gneiss, are composed of a comparatively small number of rock forming silicate minerals like quartz, feldspars (albite, microcline, anorthite etc.) micas (biotite, muscovite) and sometimes pyroxenes, amphiboles, olivine and others. Besides, there is a rather limited number of common accessory minerals like magnetite, hematite, pyrite, fluorite, apatite, cal cite and others. Moreover, the weathering and alteration products (clay minerals etc.) from these major constituents of the rock would be present, especially on water exposed surfaces in cracks and fissures. 

Silicates Many complex aluminosilicates or silicoaluminates are found in nature. Of these, clay in more or less pure fomi, pure day, kaolintte, kaolin, china clay TLSvA102G or Al203.2,Si02.2TT20 is of great importance. Clay is formed by the weathering of igneous rocks, and is used in the manufacture of bricks, pottery, procelain, and Portland cement. 

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