quantitative analysis of clay minerals using x-ray diffraction technique. part 1

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of clay minerals are important in the evaluation of the swelling potential of expansive soils A relatively simple method for the quantification of clay minerals of Al-Khod (Northern Oman) using an X-ray diffraction method is described in detail in this paper. The method is based on the additions of known internal standards to the clay sample. The clay investigated in this study contained montmorillonite, palygorskite, illtte and kaolinite. Internal standards of these minerals were mixed with the clay at different proportions and intensities of reflected peak areas were measured. It was found that the peak areas intensities relate linearly with additions of different proportions of standards. From these intensities, the clay minerals present in the clay of Al-khod were estimated.