Datapages, Inc.Print this page

The Effect of Machine Grinding to the X-ray Diffraction Pattern of Clay Size Particles

Hitoshi Banno
HB, University of Missouri, Department of Geological Sciences

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of machine crushing to the clay size fraction during the sample preparation for X-ray diffraction analysis. We used specimens collected along the San Andreas Fault, clay mineral standard, and Ocean Drilling Program core samples from Nankai. Relative abundance of smectite, illite, and chlorite/kaolinite were calculated with the procedure by Biscaye (1965). We observed significant reduction in the relative abundance for smectite and change for illite and chlorite/kaolinite by the machine grinding. Therefore, the machine grinding should be used with caution in determining the relative abundance of clay size particles, especially smectite.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90087 © 2008 AAPG/SEG Student Expo, Houston, Texas