This book is about the most complete work on the subject of clay minerals thus far conceived. Its scope is one of basics to general principles to use in real geologic situations. In principle any student, advanced student or casual researcher, should be able to ?nd an answer to almost any question posed. The breadth of knowledge presented is truly impressive. This presentation is especially important at present when the study of the most abundant minerals found near the Earth s surface, clays, appears to ?nd disfavour with students and Universities. In fact we have never before needed such an...

It is our pleasure to present this large body of information and thoughts of many mineral scientists which has accumulated over decades. Illite is a mineral that has been discovered relatively recently, even though it has great importance in the geological cycles of weathering, sedimentation and burial. Illite is the major potassium mineral among silicates in the surface environment. Potassium represents the only alkaline metal, to be bound in silicate structures during the great chemical reshuffling called weathering. The weathering environment is one of strong chemical segregation, where Si...