The Science Of Clays

This book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive and coherent description of three widely separated aspects of clays: the science of clays; the industrial uses of clays; and the role of clays in the environment. Most of the existing literature lacks such an integrated study and this work endeavours to fill that gap. An exhaustive account of the science of clays is presented in Part I of the book, which includes the classification, origin and evolution, composition and internal structure, chemical and physical properties of clays; soil mechanics; and analytical techniques for determining clay constituents. Part II provides a comprehensive description of the applications of clays and their derivatives in various industries, while Part III describes the role of clays in the environment; the pollution caused by clay minerals; and the application of clays in order to prevent environmental hazards. A principal feature of the book is its explanation of how the structure and composition of particular clay types facilitate their specific industrial or environmental applications, thus describing the interrelationship between three widely varying aspects of clay. A number of thought-provoking questions are raised at the end of the work in order to leave readers with a better insight in this regard.

The first edition of the Handbook of Clay Science published in 2006 assembled the scattered literature on the varied and diverse aspects that make up the discipline of clay science. The topics covered range from the fundamental structures (including textures) and properties of clays and clay minerals, through their environmental, health and industrial applications, to their analysis and characterization by modern instrumental techniques. Also included are the clay-microbe interaction, layered double hydroxides, zeolites, cement hydrates, and genesis of clay minerals as well as the history and teaching of clay science. The 2e adds new information from the intervening 6 years and adds some important subjects to make this the most comprehensive and wide-ranging coverage of clay science in one source in the English language. Provides up-to-date, comprehensive information in a single source Covers applications of clays, as well as the instrumental analytical techniques Provides a truly multidisciplinary approach to clay science

Here is a comprehensive and up to-do-date presentation of the origins, and properties of clay minerals at the Earth ́s surface. The text reviews the relatively simple laws that govern the chemical or isotopic composition and the crystalline structure of clays, and then discusses their genesis and alteration. Concluding chapters show that clay minerals can form in variety of different environments: meteorites, lavas, subduction zones, among others.

Origin and Mineralogy of Clays, the first of two volumes, lays the groundwork for a thorough study of clays in the environment. The second volume will deal with environmental interaction. Going from soils to sediments to diagenesis and hydrothermal alteration, the book covers the whole spectrum of clays. The chapters on surface environments are of great relevance in regard to environmental problems in soils, rivers and lake-ocean situations, showing the greatest interaction between living species and the chemicals in their habitat. The book is of interest to scientists and students working on environmental issues.

Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies of Clay Minerals, Volume 8 in the Developments in Clay Science series, is an up-to-date overview of spectroscopic techniques used in the study of clay minerals. The methods include infrared spectroscopy, covering near-IR (NIR), mid-IR (MIR), far-IR (FIR) and IR emission spectroscopy (IES), as well as FT-Raman spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. This book complements the succinct introductions to these methods described in the original Handbook of Clay Science (Volumes 1, 1st Edition and 5B, 2nd Edition), offering greater depth and featuring the most important literature since the development and application of these techniques in clay science. No other book covers such a wide variety of vibrational spectroscopic techniques in a single volume for clay and soil scientists. Includes a systematic review of spectroscopic methods Covers the theory of infrared and Raman spectroscopies and instrumentation Features a series of chapters each covering either a particular technique or application

"How Clays Work - Science & Applications of Clays & Clay-like Minerals in Health & Beauty" is part of the "Mineral Healing" book series. The first book in the series is "Earth's Humble Healers." In the second book I write in more detail about why clays and clay-like minerals - muds, diatomite, zeolite, work the way the do. I have been researching uses and applications of clays in natural health and beauty for a number of years. Having read quite a few great books about clays for a clay user like you and me, I have not yet come across a non-scientific book which would talk about properties of clays and explain the science behind them. Most of the books I have read are either purely scientific, or consumer oriented, but with very little information of how and why clays work the the way they do. So I decided to write a book for those like myself, who like to dig deep into the subject. Why is it that some clays have such potent detoxifying properties? How does it happen? I was not happy with the explanations I saw. I wanted to learn it in more detail, to prove to myself that the assertion that clays can "ingest" toxins - both organic (e.g.pesticides) and inorganic (heavy and radioactive metals) and take them out of the body environment has a scientific foundation under it. I did my research, and this book is a result of it. I apologise in advance if some (only some) of the information in the book may come across as a bit too "scientific." "How Clays Work" is for those of you who would like to learn more about this wonderful mineral. Apart from cation (ion) exchange, it covers other phenomena - such as absorption, adsorption and intercalation as the properties playing an important part in detoxification processes. There is also a lot of detailed information about muds (which some people confuse with clays), and chapters about zeolite and diatomaceous earth. The section about mud is comprehensive covering types of mud, their origin, composition and how they work with the body. And for those of you who would like to learn about toxins - there is a section in the book about toxins - biological, environmental and metabolic. And of course, heavy metals. The book describes what they are, how they get into the body and how they affect us. It is quite detailed, if you are interested in learning about the subject from one source. You will also find quite a bit of information about various types of clays, their properties, and how they can be applied in health and beauty. This book is aimed at natural health and beauty practitioners working with clays, product developers, health shop owners. Wouldn't it be good to learn why clays work the way they do and explain it to your customers? But more than anything, this book is written for every one of you who is interested in learning about clays and why they play such an important role in detoxification and health maintenance. I hope that you enjoy reading the book. Please do leave feedback after you've read it. And of course - get in touch with me if you have any questions. All the best!

Introduction to Clay Minerals is designed to give a detailed, concise and clear introduction to clay mineralogy. Using the information presented here, one should be able to understand clays and their mineralogy, their uses and importance in modern life.

As the human population grows from seven billion toward an inevitable nine or 10 billion, the demands on the limited supply of soils will grow and intensify. Soils are essential for the sustenance of almost all plants and animals, including humans, but soils are virtually infinitely variable. Clays are the most reactive and interactive inorganic compounds in soils. Clays in soils often differ from pure clay minerals of geological origin. They provide a template for most of the reactive organic matter in soils. They directly affect plant nutrients, soil temperature and pH, aggregate sizes and strength, porosity and water-holding capacities. This book aims to help improve predictions of important properties of soils through a modern understanding of their highly reactive clay minerals as they are formed and occur in soils worldwide. It examines how clays occur in soils and the role of soil clays in disparate applications including plant nutrition, soil structure, and water-holding capacity, soil quality, soil shrinkage and swelling, carbon sequestration, pollution control and remediation, medicine, forensic investigation, and deciphering human and environmental histories. Features: Provides information on the conditions that lead to the formation of clay minerals in soils Distinguishes soil clays and types of clay minerals Describes clay mineral structures and their origins Describes occurrences and associations of clays in soil Details roles of clays in applications of soils Heavily illustrated with photos, diagrams, and electron micrographs Includes user-friendly description of a new method of identification To know soil clays is to enable their use toward achieving improvements in the management of soils for enhancing their performance in one or more of their three main functions of enabling plant growth, regulating water flow to plants, and buffering environmental changes. This book provides an easily-read and extensively-illustrated description of the nature, formation, identification, occurrence and associations, measurement, reactivities, and applications of clays in soils.