Mineralogy, Physical and Exchangeable Chemistry Properties of Bentonites from the Western United States, Exclusive of Montana and Wyoming

摘要

Investigations of predominantly Tertiary age bentonites in the far western states show that these bentonites are primarily of the Ca and Ca-Na intermediate types. High Na bentonites in Tertiary formations are rare but do occur in isolated instances. Almost all of the bentonite deposits examined have viscosities of less than 70 bbl/ton and water loss in excess of 20ml. This would indicate their main use to be as pond or reservoir sealants, pet adsorbants and animal feed binders. The available tonnages of these bentonitic materials are large and in most cases, are heavily located by mining claims. The bentonite deposits also have large amounts of other mineral phases, mainly zeolites, silica minerals, feldspar minerals and gypsum. In some cases, sepiolite also occurs, especially in areas suspect of hydrothermal activity. Zeolites, chiefly clinoptilolite, are so common in the Tertiary age bentonites that in some deposits, the claimants were mining and selling zeolites instead of bentonite. In these deposits the claminants were of the belief that they were selling bentonite. This would indicate that zeolites apparently can substitute or at least are suited to the same uses as Ca or intermediate Ca-Na bentonites.