Structure, properties and genesis of Moroccan palygorskite

L. Daoudi¹*, A. Knidiri¹ and B. Rhouta²

¹Laboratory of Geosciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, B.P 549-Marrakech (Morocco). ²Laboratory of condensed matter and nanostructures, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Marrakech (Morocco).

ABSTRACT:

The studied palygorskite clay mineral has been collected from several localities of Western High Atlas Tertiary series. Samples characterization has been accomplished by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM-TEM) and by Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Three types of palygorskite were differentiated, based on the morphology and crystallites. Most of these palygorskite deposits are originally formed in shallow seas and lakes as chemical sediments or by the reconstitution of smectite clays. Structure, mineralogical and chemical purity of these clays are similar than that of the Spanish fibrous clays used in pharmaceutical applications.

KEYWORDS:

Palygorskite; structure; genesis; tertiary; Western High Atlas; Morocco

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Copy the following to cite this article: Daoudi L, Knidiri A, Rhouta B. Structure, properties and genesis of Moroccan palygorskite. Orient J Chem 2009;25(4).

Copy the following to cite this URL: Daoudi L, Knidiri A, Rhouta B. Structure, properties and genesis of Moroccan palygorskite. Available from: http://www.orientjchem.org/?p=11470