Clay Mineralogy
GEOL8550 Spring 2012 Schedule

These web notes have been prepared by Dr. Paul Schroeder and are intended for distribution to the students enrolled in this class. You are welcome view these pages, but if you want to download and incorporate any of this work into other web sites or publications, then permission is required.

• Lecture - T, R - Period 3, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (Room 325)
• Lab - W - Periods 1 and 2, 8:30 AM - 10:00 PM (Rooms 325, 322 and Rock Prep room)
• Phone: 706-542-2384
• e-mail: schroe@uga.edu
• Exercises and lab information

The textbook for this class is X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals by Duane M. Moore and Robert C. Reynolds, Jr. (1997) 2^nd edition, Oxford University Press, New York 378 p.

Month	Day	Topic (subject to change)
Jan.	T, 10	Introduction, definitions, related fields and links for Clay Mineralogy
Jan.	W, 11	Crystal chemistry review
Jan.	R, 12	Principles of X-rays - absorption phenomenon
Jan.	T, 17	Theoretical X-ray powder diffraction - Bragg's Law
Jan.	W, 18	X-ray diffraction data collection
Jan.	R, 19	Theoretical X-ray powder diffraction - Layer factors
Jan.	T, 24	Theoretical X-ray powder diffraction - Interference function
Jan.	W, 25	X-ray diffraction data processing
Jan.	R, 26	Classification of hydrous layered silicates - nomenclature
Jan.	T, 31	Hydrous layered silicates - 1:1 structures
Feb.	W, 1	Sample preparation methods for XRD
Feb.	R, 2	Hydrous layered silicates - high charge 2:1 structures
Feb.	T,7	Hydrous layered silicates - low charge 2:1 structures
Feb.	W, 8	Sample preparation recipes for XRD
Feb.	R, 9	Ionic radii and structural formula calculations
Feb.	T, 14	Associated mineral phases and their XRD identification
Feb.	W, 15	Sample treatment methods for XRD discrimination of clays
Feb.	R, 16	XRD identification of discrete clay minerals - illite, chlorite, kaolinite
Feb.	T, 21	XRD identification of discrete clay minerals - smectite, vermiculite
Feb.	W, 22	Sample treatment methods for XRD discrimination of clays
Feb.	R, 23	Mixed-layer clays and their XRD identification - Probabilities
Feb.	T, 28	Mixed-layer clays and their XRD identification - NEWMOD
Feb.	W, 29	Calculation of mixed-layer clay diffraction patterns
Mar.	T, 6	Quantitative XRD analysis of mineral mixtures part 1
Mar.	W, 7	Quantitative XRD analysis of mineral mixtures part 2
Mar.	R, 8	Exam
Mar.	T, 20	Exam Review and Reynolds Cup
Mar.	W, 21	Reynolds Cup
Mar.	R, 22	Electron optics
Mar.	T, 27	Reciprocal lattice
Mar.	W, 28	Electron diffraction
Mar.	R, 29	Project updates and Reynolds Cup
Apr.	T, 3	The geochemistry of clays - Thermodynamic review
Apr.	W, 4	The geochemistry of clays - Activity coefficients
Apr.	R, 5	Equilibrium adsorption and ion exchange
Apr.	T, 10	Isotherms and multi-valence exchange
Apr.	W, 11	Neo-formation reaction mechanisms for clays
Apr.	R, 12	Weathering reactions
Apr.	T, 17	Clay mineral reactions in natural systems
Apr.	W, 18	Weathering reactions and stability diagrams
Apr.	R, 19	Rates of clay mineral formation
Apr.	T, 24	Class project presentations
Apr.	W, 25	Class project presentations
Apr.	R, 26	Class project presentations
May.	R, 6	Final Exam

Each student is expected complete a project on the subject of their choice. The topic must pertain to some aspect of clay mineralogy (either a lab project or a library referenced paper are possible). An abstract, figures, and list of references should be provided. Grade is determined as follows: Midterm exam (20%), Final exam (30%), Labs (40%), Project(10%).