Clay-size (<4 micron) Only Analysis
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        X-ray Diffraction Mineralogy with Impact
 
 
 
 
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Sample Preparation
Size-fractionated clay samples or suspended solids submitted for XRD analysis are first dispersed in a dilute sodium phosphate solution using a sonic probe.  The suspended samples are then vacuum-deposited on silver metal membrane filters to produce oriented mounts.  Clay mounts are attached to glass slides and exposed to ethylene glycol vapor for a minimum of 24 hours to aid in detection and characterization of expandable clays.
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Analytical Procedures
XRD analyses of the samples are performed using a Rigaku or Scintag automated powder diffractometer equipped with a Cu X-ray radiation source (40 Kv, 35 mA) and a solid state or scintillation detector.  The glycol-solvated oriented clay mounts are analyzed over an angular range of 2-50 degrees 2 theta at a scan rate of 1.5 degrees/minute.

Quantitative analyses of the diffraction data are done using integrated peak areas (derived from peak deconvolution / profile-fitting techniques) and combined empirical and calculated reference intensity ratio (RIR) factors.  The weight fractions of the clay minerals (and clay-size rock-forming minerals) are determined for the clay mounts of each sample and normalized to 100%.  Determinations of mixed-layer clay ordering and percent expandable interlayers are done by comparing experimental diffraction data from the glycol-solvated clay aggregates with simulated one dimensional diffraction profiles generated using the program NEWMOD written by R. C. Reynolds.

Data reported in the table and provided to you as a spreadsheet or other computer-readable file are formatted as weight percent, but are actually calculated as weight fractions.  Therefore, slight rounding errors may be observed in the formatted data.