Phyllo silicate clay

Clay minerals are hydrous layer silicates of colloidal dimensions, with most if not all of the individual platy particles in the colloidal range of c. 1 nm-1 pm (van Olphen, 1976 Van Damme et al., 1985). The term phyllosilicate (phyllo = leaf like) is applied to the broad group of hydrous silicates with layer structures. The essentia] components of the phyllosilicate structure are two-dimensional tetrahedra and octahedra of oxygen atoms (or ions). The coordinating atoms (or cations) in the centre of the tetrahedra are for the most part Si, but Al3 or Fe3+ may also be present. The coordinating cations in the octahedra are usually Al3, Mg2+, Fe3 or Fe2. Some clay structures (e.g. hectorite) can be synthesized in a reproducible and relatively homogeneous form. 

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