Mineralogical Characterization of Di Linh Bentonite, Vietnam: A Methodological Approach of X-ray Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy

• Vietnam has decided to establish nuclear power as further energy option. In order to develop a Vietnamese reference bentonite as potential barrier in a final repository for high radioactive waste, a detailed mineralogical investigation of Di Linh bentonite (Lam Dong province), lacustrine clay, was carried out by different methods especially transmission electron microscopy (TEM) linked with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). From a sample homogenized from 5 tones of the bentonite, mineral formulae of clay particles was calculated The calculation also focuses on randomly interstratifications of two and three members. The fraction <2 μm of Di Linh bentonite is composed mainly by montmorillonite (Ca0.06Mg0.03Na0.09K0.03Al1.39Fe0.25Mg0.26(OH)2 Si3.96Al0.04O10) and regular ordering (R1) illite-smectite interstratifications with K- and charge-deficiency (Ca0.04Mg0.07Na0.18K0.16Al1.76Fe0.08Mg0.16(OH)2Si3.62Al0.38O10). Additionally, Fe-poor kaolinite-smectite-vermiculite interstratifications and trace of Fe-rich chloritesmectite- vermiculite interstatifications were identified. TEM-investigations showed analytical proofs of the sedimentary character of smectite formation in the Di Linh deposit. Parent muscovite was weathered in several steps in two different environments: (i) K-leaching and layer-wise alteration into kaolinite; (ii) further edge- controlled alteration of mica into lathlike montmorillonite particles under dissolution of kaolinite layers from former kaolinite-mica intergrowths. Mineralogical composition of the Di Linh bentonite with mainly montmorillonite and illite-rich illite-smectite interstratifications shows that the Di Linh bentonite can be a suitable barrier candidate in final repositories.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Geoteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Geotechnical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Bentonite

Transmission electron microscopy

X-ray diffraction

Montmorillonite

Interstratification

Geoteknik

Soil Mechanics

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