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Week - 1 |
Introduction to Clay and Clay Minerals: The concept of clay, definition of clay minerals, historical development of clay mineralogy, and geological significance. |
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Week - 2 |
Crystal Chemistry of Clay Minerals: Si–O tetrahedral and Al/Mg–OH octahedral sheets, sheet combinations, isomorphous substitution, layer charge. |
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Week - 3 |
Classification of Clay Minerals: 1:1, 2:1, and 2:1:1 layered silicates, dioctahedral and trioctahedral structures, and major mineral groups. |
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Week - 4 |
Kaolin Group Minerals: Kaolinite, dickite, nacrite, halloysite; their crystal structures, formation, and geological settings. |
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Week - 5 |
Smectite Group Minerals: Montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite; layer charge, swelling, and cation exchange |
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Week - 6 |
Illite, Mica, and Vermiculite Minerals: Relationships between illite and mica, the crystal structure of vermiculite, and mineral transformations |
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Week - 7 |
Chlorite and Mixed-Layer Clay Minerals: Chlorite group, illite-smectite (I/S), chlorite-smectite, and other mixed-layer minerals |
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Week - 8 |
Fibrous Clay Minerals and Clays with Special Structures: Sepiolite, palygorskite, allophane, imogolite; structural characteristics and formation conditions |
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Week - 9 |
Identification of Clay Minerals by XRD: Sample preparation, oriented preparations, basal reflections, ethylene glycol treatment, and heat treatment. |
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Week - 10 |
Various Topics: Examination of selected current research articles |
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Week - 11 |
Various Topics: Examination of selected current research articles. |
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Week - 12 |
Various Topics: Examination of selected current research articles |
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Week - 13 |
Various Topics: Examination of selected current research articles. |
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Week - 14 |
Various Topics: Examination of selected current research articles. |