Mineralogy, chemistry, and physical properties interrelationships of some sensitive clays from Eastern Canada

Abstract

This paper describes the use of quantitative mineralogy and specific surface area in interpreting the index properties of clayey soils from nine sites in Eastern Canada. Samples representative of the Tyrrell, Laflamme, Champlain, and Goldthwait marine seas and Lac Barlow–Ojibway have been studied.Quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses may be satisfactorily obtained using potassium metaperiodate (Foscal-Mella 1976) as an internal standard in these soils. Determination of contained amorphous matter requires extraction procedures less brutal than those employed in the Ségalen method.Correlations between Atterberg limits and specific surface area are believed to be more useful than those between specific surface area and the grain size or clay fraction. Increases in plasticity and specific surface area are related to increases in the amount of contained phyllosilicates and amorphous matter.The mineralogical composition of the soils studied is dominated, even in the clay fraction, by felsic minerals (plagioclase, quartz, microcline, and hornblende). Samples close to the Canadian Shield contain relatively more felsic minerals than those away from it. Key words: mineralogy, index properties, sensitive clays, physicochemistry.

Quaternary Sedimentation in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Adjoining Areas, Eastern Canada: An Overview Based on High-Resolution Seismo-Stratigraphy

“…The unit can be traced up to, and correlated with, the extensive marine clays along the shores of the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, mapped as Leda Clay, Mer de Laflamme Clay, and Goldthwait Sea clays (e.g. Dredge, 1983;Locat et al, 1984). These sediments consist of distinctive blue-grey, stiff, massive to laminated clays, and can exceed 230 m in thickness (e.g.…”

Screening of heavy metal containing waste types for use as raw material in Arctic clay-based bricks

“…Marine glaciogene clays are known from numerous localities throughout the Arctic and former glaciated areas of the Northern hemisphere (Belmonte, 2015;Gillott, 1979;Locat and St-Gelais, 2014;Locat et al, 1984;Ramesh and D'Anglejan, 1995;Roaldset, 1972;Rosenqvist, 1975). Approximately 150 kg of marine clay from the town of Ilulissat, West Greenland, was sampled from a depth interval of 20-100 cm below surface.…”

Notes sur la minéralogie des sédiments fins du lac Ojibway, en particulier ceux de la région de Matagami, Québec

“…LOCAT et al (1984) ont présenté les résultats d'analyses minéralogiques et mécaniques de quelques argiles du Québec. Ces données nous permettent de comparer la nature de l'argile de Matagami avec celle d'autres sites.…”

“…L'argile de Matagami est de la même composition que la plupart des argiles du Québec (FOSCAL-MELLA, 1976;LOCAT ef al., 1984 Bien que les sédiments argileux aient une composition relativement homogène, les concentrations différentes leur confèrent des propriétés mécaniques et physico-chimiques sensiblement différentes (cf. LOCAT et al, 1984). Bien peu de données sont disponibles sur la minéralogie des sédiments Ojibway.…”