X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals

Clay minerals are the most abundant minerals on Earth. Widely used in building materials and industry, they are components of bricks, concrete, and ceramics; they impart whiteness to paper; they serve as catalysts in chemical processes, fillers in pharmaceuticals, and stabilizing agents in the disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes; and they indicate the location of petroleum and natural gas reservoirs. Furthermore, a knowledge of the properties of these minerals is essential in agriculture and in making informed engineering decisions. In this text, the authors explore the applications and limitations of data produced by the interaction of X-rays with crystalline minerals. The treatment is informal but rigorous, combining theoretical discussion with recipe-like directions for laboratory procedures.