We have examined the nature and origin of smectites in glaciomarine sediments of the AND-2A drill core (McMurdo Sound, Antarctica) by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses on the clay fraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations and SEM-EDS microanalyses on smectite particles. Relying on the smectite variation throughout the ...

Liquid water in comets, once considered impossible, now appears to be almost certain. New evidence has come from the discovery of clay minerals in comet Tempel 1, which compliments the indirect evidence in aqueous alteration of carbonaceous chondrites. Infrared spectral indication of clay is confirmed by modelling data in the 8–40 mm and 8–12 mm wavebands on the basis of mixtures of clays and o...

Soil engineering properties are usually determined in a laboratory setting at room temperature of 270C. Seasonal changes, which is mainly the alteration thermal condition surrounding soil, causes reasonable concern about nature and magnitude changes influences soil properties. The particle size distribution, consistency limit, strength, mineralogy, permeability all accompanied by rise temperatu...

The mechanical properties of non-vulcanized natural rubber and dialyzed natural rubber-clay nanocomposites have been studied by uniaxial deformations to evaluate the reinforcement efficiency of the clay. We show that while non-rubber molecules contribute to auto-reinforcement, removal of these molecules improves significantly the performance of clay as reinforcement agent. These mechanical prop...

today fingerprinting techniques are increasingly adopted as an alternative and more direct and reliable means of assembling sediment source information. one of the principal assumptions of sediment fingerprinting is that potential catchment sediment sources can be distinguished on the basis of their physical, geochemical and biological properties or fingerprint properties. however, while the so...

This study investigates the removal of tungsten from simulated water using biopolymer coated particles (i.e. chitosan coated clay) and natural clay. The effects of initial tungsten concentration (from 20 to 500 ppm) and water pH (4, 5.5 and 6.4) on zeta potential and tungsten removal were studied for both chitosan coated clay and natural clay. It was found that the net surface charge of natural...

Chimpanzees of the Sonso community, Budongo Forest, Uganda were observed eating clay and drinking clay-water from waterholes. We show that clay, clay-rich water, and clay obtained with leaf sponges, provide a range of minerals in different concentrations. The presence of aluminium in the clay consumed indicates that it takes the form of kaolinite. We discuss the contribution of clay geophagy to...

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) has been recently found to be an efficient renewable and environmentally-friendly flame retardant. In this work, for the first time, we have used waste DNA from fishing industry to modify clay structure in order to increase the clay interactions with epoxy resin and take benefit of its additional thermal property effect on thermo-physical properties of epoxy-clay nan...